A man who has been incarcerated since 2013 for confessing to the murder of two women in Winnipeg has been granted statutory release. Shawn Lamb, aged 66, is required to spend a minimum of six months at a specified facility as part of the conditions set by the Parole Board of Canada in a decision made on Nov. 6.
Lamb pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in the 2012 killings of Carolyn Sinclair and Lorna Blacksmith. Originally faced with three counts of second-degree murder, including the alleged murder of Tanya Nepinak, 31, the charge related to Nepinak was dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Back in 2013, Justice Rick Saull sentenced Lamb to 20 years in prison, minus time served, following a joint recommendation from the defense and prosecution. Lamb was eligible for parole in 2022.
According to the law, offenders who have served two-thirds of a fixed sentence are eligible for supervised release from prison, unless circumstances warrant denial. Special conditions may be imposed by the parole board if deemed necessary.
In the parole board’s ruling, a release plan for Lamb to reside in transitional housing was rejected due to concerns about posing an “undue risk to society.” The decision was influenced by Lamb’s criminal history, which included assault charges, sexual assault, and robbery incidents before the murders.
Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, president of the National Family and Survivors Circle, expressed that the news will evoke painful memories for those mourning the deaths of Sinclair, Blacksmith, and Nepinak. She emphasized the need to protect Indigenous women and vulnerable individuals from individuals like Shawn Lamb.
The parole board’s decision has drawn criticism from Indigenous leaders in Manitoba, with calls for increased protection for Indigenous women and girls. MKO and AMC condemned Lamb’s release, highlighting systemic failures that allow predators to harm Indigenous women without adequate accountability.
The board mandated that Lamb reside in a halfway house or psychiatric facility for at least six months, with a future assessment to determine the continuation of this condition. Psychological evaluations indicated an above-average risk of sexual reoffenses, although Lamb’s overall risk was deemed moderate. Additional conditions include reporting all relationships and friendships, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and avoiding contact with individuals engaged in criminal activities.
Lamb’s criminal past, which involved multiple assault charges and breaches of release conditions, was reviewed in the decision. The circumstances of the murders of Sinclair and Blacksmith were detailed, outlining the tragic events that led to their deaths.
Overall, Lamb’s release and the conditions imposed have sparked concerns and calls for a reassessment of the risk assessment and supervision measures applied in his case.