A man serving a federal sentence for an "unprovoked" stabbing on a Prince George transit bus will remain in custody for the duration of his sentence.
In a decision issued earlier this month, a Parole Board of Canada panel decided against granting Robin Colin Fleury, 51, statutory release, finding that he has "established a pattern of persistent violence" and has not made any effort or progress" to address his risk to reoffend.
In May 2021, Fleury was sentenced to nearly two years and nine months in custody for a March 2021 incident that, in turn, stems from a November 2020 encounter when he was asked to leave a friend's home because he was drunk.
According to a summary in the panel's decision, he responded by punching the friend in the face taking him to the ground, threatening to "f--k you up" the next time he sees him in public and then stealing the man's tablet as he left the home.
While out on bail on charges related to that incident, he boarded a bus where he saw the man, and after a few minutes, got up, stabbed him with a knife and left.
"The knife went right through the victim's leg. There were no words exchanged and it was considered an unprovoked attack," the two-person panel wrote in the decision.
"While being arrested a short time later, you said, ‘arrest me for whoever I killed' and proceeded to urinate into a toilet in front of the officer. During the investigation process, you attempted to intimidate the officer and hit the officer's hand, making their notebook go flying. While the officer was exiting your cell, your spat at the officer's feet."
Fleury's criminal history spans about 30 years and covers a "versatile history of convictions that is particularly noteworthy given the nature and variety of violence you have committed."
"You have offended against males and females both known and unknown to you. You have used your fists, edged weapons and improvised weapons to inflict harm on your victims. Several of your offences have resulted in serious harm. You have threatened violence and death, and demonstrated a willingness and capacity to carry out violence," the panel wrote.
While serving the most recent sentence, Fleury refused to participate in a psychological risk assessment. As such, the assessment was completed via a file review and he was assessed as a "high risk for further violence in the community and while incarcerated."
Beyond saying he wanted to reside in the northern interior of B.C., Fleury did not provide any release plans. His community management team recommended he remain detained.
The panel members wrote that as an Indigenous person, Fleury has been impacted by systemic barriers and challenges and has "suffered considerable trauma that included serious abuse as well as being exposed to substance abuse, violence, intergenerational trauma, poverty, family dislocation, and significant loss."
But given the context of his "very lengthy and serious criminal history which includes considerable violence," the panel found that "public safety must be the paramount consideration."
Fleury waived his right to a hearing and the panel's decision was reached by way of an in-office review.
Statutory release is typically granted once two-thirds of a sentence has been completed and usually comes with conditions such as returning to a designated home at night and refraining from drugs and alcohol.
In all, he was sentenced to two years eight months and 22 days which means he will be out on or about Feb. 3, 2024.
