Canada

Convicted murderer Allan Legere denied full parole

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Allan Legere departs from court in Burton, N.B., as he waits for jurors in his murder trial to return a verdict on Nov. 2, 1991.

Serial killer Allan Legere, who was convicted of five murders in New Brunswick in the 1980s, has once again been denied parole.

In a written decision, the Parole Board of Canada said Legere, 77, waived his right to a hearing on July 2 and did not provide any written representations. Following an in-office review, the board denied him full parole.

“After analyzing all of the available information, the Board finds that you continue to pose an undue risk for conditional release,” the decision reads. “It is the Board’s opinion that you will, by reoffending, present an undue risk to society if released on full parole and that your release will not contribute to the protection of society by facilitating your reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen.”

Legere was denied parole in 2021. He appealed that decision, but it was upheld.

The decision said Legere, who came to be known as “the Monster of the Miramichi,” was involved in a violent home invasion with two co-accused in June 1986. An elderly couple was assaulted and robbed, and the male victim died from his injuries.

Legere, who was on legislated mandatory release at the time of the offence, was sentenced to life minimum for second-degree murder in January 1987, according to the decision. His appeal on the conviction was dismissed in 1988.

“In May 1989, while serving your federal sentence, you were granted a medical escort to a hospital,” the decision reads. “You were accompanied by a driver and two correctional officers, and were wearing full restraint equipment, including a body belt with handcuffs and leg irons.

“While alone in the washroom, you were able to free yourself from your restraints with a handcuff key you had made in prison and exited the washroom brandishing a weapon. Although the correctional officers sprayed you with mace, you were able to get away.”

The decision says Legere grabbed a female victim and escaped with her in her vehicle. He later released the hostage and remained unlawfully at large for roughly six months.

During that time, Legere sexually assaulted three women and killed them. He also beat a priest to death after breaking into a church rectory and took three motorists hostage.

Legere was arrested in November 1989, according to the decision. He was convicted on four counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life minimum in 1991. He appealed those convictions, but they were dismissed.

In its decision, the Parole Board said the Correctional Service of Canada reported Legere’s offences demonstrate a “pattern of disregard for people’s privacy and property, lack of consequential thinking, thrill seeking, sexual deviance, cognitive distortions, and poor problem-solving skills.”

The board also noted Legere has engaged in programming and interventions, but has made few gains regarding personal growth.

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