Young killer J.R. complying with conditions, court hears
The 19-year-old who killed her Medicine Hat family seven years ago got a glowing report at her sentencing review on Monday.
J.R. was 12-years-old when she killed her parents and eight-year-old brother in Medicine Hat with her 23-year-old boyfriend Jeremy Steinke in 2006.
Although she is turning 20 next month, J.R. can't be identified because of her age at the time of the crime.
She appeared in a Medicine Hat court via CCTV, saying next to nothing as case workers, lawyers and the judge spoke about her progress.
J.R. was convicted in 2007 on three counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to intensive rehabilitative custody and supervision. Her case was originally reviewed every six months before being extended to a yearly review.
Justice Scott Brooker, the judge who presided over J.R.'s trial, checks in on her progress during the review.
J.R. began her 10-year sentence at a psychiatric hospital but was released in the fall of 2011 to begin her integration into society.
She now lives with a roommate, has a job and goes to school.
The court heard that J.R. has complied with all of the restrictions placed on her as she enters the fourth stage of her sentence, which focuses on reintegration and moving her towards independence.
"This young lady is the poster child for this program,” said defence lawyer Tim Foster.
J.R. asked for her 11:30 p.m. curfew to be dismissed. Brooker said no, but added that decision can be reviewed in December.
"It may be to your ultimate benefit to maintain your curfew for the present time,” he said.
Robert Remington, one of the journalists who covered the case and later co-authored the best-selling book Runaway Devil, said there is still some public outrage about J.R.'s sentence.
"She was only 12-years-old and the brutality of the crime, the factor of all those things, I think still keeps people interested in it," he said.
"I hope for society's sake that they are able to rehabilitate her and that she's able to get on the right path."
The annual sentence reviews are the public's only chance to get any details on Canada's youngest multiple murderer.
She has just two-and-a-half years left on her sentence and at age 22 will be fully released.
If J.R. stays out of trouble for five years following her full release, her criminal record will be wiped clean.
