The mother of a Surrey 10-year-old who was abducted and killed in October 2000 says she is 鈥渂eyond disappointed鈥� that her daughter鈥檚 killer has been granted escorted leaves from custody.

Jody Aspin said the decision regarding Shane Ertmoed was made Tuesday (May 4), following a virtual parole board hearing.

鈥淐learly, watching him today, all he was concerned about was what he could get for himself. He showed no remorse. Not an ounce,鈥� Aspin said.

Ertmoed is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in connection with Heather鈥檚 death. The youngster was playing outside with some children during a stay at her father鈥檚 townhouse complex in Cloverdale when a neighbour convinced her to go inside his apartment.

When Ertmoed tried to sexually assault Heather, she struggled and he killed her. Her body was found weeks later in Alouette Lake.

Ertmoed was found guilty in 2002, and handed a life sentence with no chance of parole until 2027.

Aspin said Tuesday that following Ertmoed鈥檚 conviction, no one told her that he could be applying for day parole on a regular basis 鈥� 鈥渨hich he did, the entire time,鈥� she said.

(Parole Board of Canada officials clarified that offenders may apply for Escorted Temporary Absences at any time in their sentence. Ertmoed is not eligible for day parole, however, until Nov. 3, 2022, followed by full parole eligibility as of Nov. 3, 2025. His sentence does not expire.)

鈥淪o at no point has myself or my family been able to even try and start to heal, because he feels that he should be allowed outside jail.鈥�

In a statement read during the hearing and shared that afternoon with Peace Arch News, Aspin told the board that Ertmoed, now 43, 鈥渘ot only took my daughter鈥檚 life, he took mine.鈥�

She said Ertmoed鈥檚 rights died with her daughter and appealed to the board to stop allowing him to continue victimizing her and her family.

鈥淚 wake up and go to work and that鈥檚 all I can do,鈥� Aspin told Peace Arch News. 鈥淚 think about her from the moment I wake up till the moment I go to bed.鈥�

According to Rebecca Darnell, a Langley lawyer who attended Tuesday鈥檚 hearing to support Aspin 鈥� with whom she developed a friendship through the ordeal of Heather鈥檚 disappearance and murder 鈥� Ertmoed asked for escorted leaves from William Head Institution in Victoria 鈥渇or the purpose of assisting his rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.鈥�

鈥淗e wants to work at non-profits,鈥� Darnell said. 鈥淚 was not aware that that was part of the plan and, in fact, the victims were not aware of the plan.鈥�

Darnell said other information disclosed during the hearing that concerned her included that Ertmoed did not participate in any programs during the first decade of his incarceration, and that he hadn鈥檛 considered medication to reduce his sex drive and manage his risk level because he is still young enough to have a family.

About about being a murderer, Ertmoed told the board 鈥渉e was not proud of what happened to Heather,鈥� Darnell said.

Darnell said she was not convinced that Ertmoed was sincere.

鈥淚 get that we don鈥檛 lock people up, we don鈥檛 throw away the key, we don鈥檛 hang them,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his guy, when I heard him, I just could not detect any credible empathy from him. He was controlled and he was deliberate. He shared as much as he was forced to share.鈥�

Heather鈥檚 childhood best friend also gave a statement to the board, sharing the lasting impact that her friend鈥檚 death had on her own life, and her concerns for the community鈥檚 safety should Ertmoed be allowed out.

Katherine Charette told PAN she found the board鈥檚 decision to grant Ertmoed鈥檚 application 鈥渞eally shocking,鈥� and said Ertmoed鈥檚 expressions of regret don鈥檛 hold up.

鈥淚 feel if he was truly sorry鈥� he wouldn鈥檛 ask for this,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e would sit and do his time till the day he died.鈥�

Darnell said Ertmoed鈥檚 escorted leaves are to take effect after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, and be in effect from Monday to Friday, for no more than eight hours per day, for a period of one year.

Parole board officials said such escorted leaves are approved/authorized when it is considered that the offender 鈥渨ill not present an undue risk during the absence.鈥�