A man serving a life sentence for fatally shooting four people in 1980 has been granted an extension to his day parole for six more months.
Steven Leclair, now in his late 70s, shot two employees and an elderly patron after getting kicked out of a Vancouver bar 43 years ago.
He then held people at gunpoint and forced them to drive him to a Richmond RCMP detachment, where he shot 26-year-old Const. Thomas Agar in the chest.
He was convicted of four first-degree murders.
Leclair was granted six months of day parole in December 2022, which has now been extended for six more months by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC).
In a decision issued on June 23, the PBC acknowledged Leclair’s health has “declined” since he was released to the community, including his “cognitive capabilities.”
“(Leclair is) bed-ridden, (has) atrophy and (is) now unable to walk,” reads the decision.
Leclair has received in-home care from local health authorities since he was released on day parole.
Although the PBC “remains very concerned with the seriousness” of Leclair’s crimes, which caused “inexplicable and incalculable” harms, it decided Leclair’s day parole should continue as he is experiencing “further physical and mental decline.”
The PBC said “significant weight” was put on the viability of Leclair’s release plan, which included “support from the local health authority and (Leclair’s) spouse.”
According to the decision, Leclair is engaged in his correctional plan and his accountability, motivation and reintegration potential are a medium level.
“(Leclair continues) to have some need for improvement in risk domains,” reads the decision.
Under his day parole conditions, Leclair is forbidden from drinking or entering drinking establishments.
He is also not allowed to contact the victims and their families, go to various municipalities across B.C. including Richmond, and he cannot go to police detachments unless it is pre-arranged or an emergency.
