Allan Dwayne Schoenborn, the man convicted in the brutal killing of his three children, has been granted a conditional discharge by the British Columbia Review Board. The decision, which took effect on June 2, allows Schoenborn to leave the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam under strict conditions.
Background of the case
In 2010, Schoenborn was found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder for the first-degree murders of his three children: Cordon, aged five, Max, eight, and Kaitlynne, 10. The killings occurred at their home in Merritt, B.C., in 2008. He appeared before the board for his annual hearing on Monday to request the 12-month conditional discharge.
Conditions of the discharge
The B.C. Review Board imposed several conditions on Schoenborn. He must attend a psychiatric clinic for treatment, live in a supervised place, and return to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital if ordered by the board. Additionally, he is required to report any intimate relationships, maintain good behaviour, and refrain from possessing or using weapons or drugs.
Public and political reaction
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from political figures and the victims' family. Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad called the decision “wrong” in a social media post, stating, “This man needs to be locked away. He should not be getting any kind of discharge, conditional or otherwise. After what he did, the public has every right to expect that he remains under the strictest supervision for the rest of his life.”
Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West also expressed outrage, saying, “I am outraged by the B.C. Review Board’s slippery slope normalization of someone who killed their children. A conditional discharge is not a minor administrative step. It is part of a process that moves him closer to greater freedom.”
Dave Teixeira, a spokesperson for the victims’ family, shared his concerns in a video, stating, “In my opinion, (Schoenborn) is more evil than he is ill. He’s interested in getting out, he’s not interested in getting better.” He added that the conditional discharge is a “waiting room for the absolute discharge” and warned, “Should he ever get an absolute discharge, I promise you we will be hearing about him on the news after he’s created more tragedy.”
