Anthony Theophile Jolin, the convicted killer who gained notoriety for marrying infamous murderer Luka Magnotta while both were incarcerated, has been denied parole by Canadian authorities.
Parole Board Decision
In a decision rendered this month, the Parole Board of Canada refused the 43-year-old inmate's request for release on the life sentence he is serving for murdering a fellow prisoner. The board determined that Jolin continues to pose a significant risk to public safety despite some improvements in his behavior.
Notorious Prison Marriage
Jolin and Magnotta made international headlines in 2017 when they managed to marry each other while both were serving time for separate horrific homicides. The union between two convicted murderers raised questions about prison protocols and relationships between high-profile inmates.
The marriage appears to have deteriorated according to the parole decision documents. The board noted that Jolin experienced emotional disorganization and violent outbursts during the relationship's breakdown, including punching walls, pushing his spouse, and verbal aggression.
Criminal Histories of Both Men
Magnotta was found guilty on December 23, 2014 for the brutal murder of Jun Lin, a Concordia University student. The case shocked the nation when Lin was killed and dismembered in a Décarie Boulevard apartment, with body parts mailed to political parties and schools.
Jolin's criminal history is equally violent. On November 6, 2003, while already serving time for armed robbery at a New Brunswick federal penitentiary, Jolin and at least one other inmate attacked fellow prisoner Kevin Whynder in a shower. Witnesses saw Jolin dragging the naked victim from the shower area. Whynder suffered a chest wound, collapsed in the prison's common area, and later died from his injuries.
The sentencing judge described Jolin's offense as "one of the more horrendous crimes that he had ever seen committed." Jolin committed additional violent assaults on other inmates after the murder, causing serious harm that authorities noted could have easily resulted in more deaths.
Reasons for Parole Denial
The parole board acknowledged that Jolin has shown some improvement but expressed serious concerns about his emotional management and propensity for violence. While the violence displayed during his relationship breakdown was less severe than murder, the board emphasized that "any kind of violence while under supervision is a poor indicator of what your behaviour may be in the community."
The decision did credit Jolin for seeking help from his case management team and eventually finding more peaceful ways to handle the stressful situation. However, the board concluded that his areas of emotional management and violent tendencies remain concerns that require close monitoring.
Jolin, a New Brunswick native, has indicated he plans to live in Quebec if he is ever released from prison. The parole board's decision ensures he will remain incarcerated for the foreseeable future as he continues serving his life sentence.
