The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to a former Prince George man serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in the 1995 death of a woman on a northern B.C. ranch.
David Mostyn Pritchard, 51, was not formally eligible for full parole until March 2020 but was given the break on Dec. 4 because he suffers from a terminal illness.
Pritchard had been on day parole in a halfway house in the Fraser Valley since Aug. 5.
Following a lengthy trial, Pritchard was found guilty on Dec. 14, 2002 of murdering Pirkko Skolos in Topley, about 275 kilometres west of Prince George, sometime between Nov. 23 and 24, 1995.
Crown prosecution alleged Pritchard shot and killed Skolos for 13 kilograms of marijuana, worth $80,000.
Pritchard has continued to deny he committed the offence. He has said he helped his friend rob Skolos and bury the body off East Shelley Road, but said his cohort actually killed her.
As recently as 2011, Pritchard demonstrated criminal values when incarcerated and is considered highly psychopathic.
"However, your more recent behaviour has improved and you are considered engaged in your correctional plan and you have done well on day parole this far and professional opinion indicates that given your terminal illness your risk is manageable on conditional release," the board said in its decision.
Conditions of Pritchard's parole include no consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs, complying with a curfew and avoiding anyone believed to be involved in criminal activity.
