Hay River, N.W.T., man serving time for manslaughter granted day parole
A Hay River, N.W.T., man, serving an 11-year sentence for manslaughter in the 2017 death of Alex Norwegian, has been granted day parole for a period of six months.
In a decision issued last month, the Parole Board of Canada said Levi Cayen, 26, would "not present an undue risk to society if released on day parole."
The board also decided, however, that Cayen should not be granted full parole, as he needs "closer supervision and more structure than is offered on a full parole release."
Cayen was one of four people charged in connection with Norweigian's death in December 2017. Sasha Cayen pleaded guilty to manslaughter and robbery; Tyler Cayen pleaded guilty to being an accessory to manslaughter; and James Thomas was convicted of second-degree murder and robbery.
Cayen, along with Thomas, met Norwegian on a remote road on the Kátł'odeeche Fırst Nation reserve. The men beat him with a bat and steel pipe, used rope to confine him, stole his clothes, smashed in his car windows and left Norwegian to die — ultimately of hypothermia — on the side of the road.
Cayen, originally charged with murder, was convicted by a jury of manslaughter in March 2022 and sentenced to 11 years, with credit for time served. That meant Cayen had another four and a half years to serve when he began his sentence in June 2022.
In its decision last month, the parole board said day parole will help Cayen's reintegration into society, in part by allowing him to strengthen family relationships that would help "insulate" him from negative influences. It cited Cayen's positive family support.
The board also cited the limited duration and scope of Cayen's criminal history, and how it was "directly linked" to substance abuse, relationship stress, and a negative peer group.
"The Board finds that these issues appear to be under your control in that you are not associating with negative individuals within the institution, you have been abstinent from drugs and alcohol for a significant period, and you are no longer in your former unhealthy relationship," the decision reads.
"With close supervision, these issues can be monitored on a structured release."
Cayen's day parole will begin with his admission to a treatment program for substance abuse.
The board has also imposed several conditions on his day parole, including prohibiting him from being in Yellowknife or Hay River. Other conditions include:
No purchase, possession or consumption of illegal drugs or alcohol.
No association with anyone believed to be involved in criminal behaviour or substance misuse.
No direct or indirect contact with any member of Norwegian's family.
Report any relationships with women to his parole supervisor.
Participation in counselling with a mental health professional and/or an elder.
"Though you have worked hard on these issues during your time in prison, further work is required to transfer your skills to the community and to further develop your skills to prevent a return to old patterns of thinking and behaving," the board's decision reads.
