Alberta girl who killed her family must remain under curfew - Action News
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Alberta girl who killed her family must remain under curfew

The 19-year-old who killed her Medicine Hat family in southern Alberta seven years ago got a glowing report at her sentencing review on Monday.

Judge keeps Canada's youngest multiple murderer under 11:30 p.m. curfew

J.R. must remain under curfew, finds review

11 years ago
Duration 1:48
Medicine Hat judge keeps Canada's youngest multiple murderer under 11:30 p.m. curfew.

The 19-year-old who killed her Medicine Hat family in southern Alberta seven years ago got a glowing report at her sentencing review on Monday.

J.R. was 12yearsold in 2006 when she and her 23-year-old boyfriendJeremy Steinkekilled her parents and eight-year-old brother.

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 Hatcourt via closed-circuit television, 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, 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.

Complying with restrictions

Shenow liveswith 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 towardindependence.

"This young lady is the poster child for this program, said defence lawyer Tim Foster.

Brooker agreed that J.R. is doing well.

"She's doing all or more that's expected of her in this program," he said.

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.

2 years left on her sentence

Robert Remington, one of the journalists who covered the case and later co-authored the bestsellingbookRunaway Devil, said there is still some public outrage about J.R.'ssentence.

"She was only 12yearsold and the brutality of the crime, the factor of all those things, I thinkstill 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 arethe public's only chance to get any details on Canada's youngest multiple murderer.

She has just 2 years left on her sentence and will be fully released at age 22.

If J.R. stays out of trouble for five years following her full release, her criminal record will be wiped clean.