McDonald's killer has leave extended

One of the Sydney River McDonald's murderers has been granted more time out of jail.

The National Parole Board has renewed unescorted temporary absences for Darren Muise for 60 days. They are being spent at the home of his girlfriend.

The board said Muise will be allowed two separate absences of 72 hours each. He's also enrolled in a vocational program that began Nov. 30.

Muise, 37, has been serving a life sentence since 1993 for second-degree murder and robbery.

Muise was 18 when he pleaded guilty to killing Neil Burroughs in a botched robbery at the McDonald's restaurant in Sydney River, N.S. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 20 years.

Burroughs was shot, beaten with a bat and had his throat slit. Two other McDonald's employees, James Fagan and Donna Warren, were killed that night. A fourth worker, Arlene MacNeil, was permanently disabled.

The other two men convicted in the killings, Freeman MacNeil and Derek Wood, are serving life sentences with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.

The board says Muise is under conditions not to have contact with the surviving victim or victim families.