Bernardo denied parole

Former Kingston Pen resident won't be leaving prison

One of Kingston's most notorious past residents is staying in Jail. Paul Bernardo has been denied bail once again. 

That was the verdict of a Parole Board hearing for the convicted killer Tuesday afternoon, after six victim impact statements were read. 

Bernardo, who is designated as a dangerous offender, is serving an indeterminate life sentence for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of 15-year-old Kristen French and 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy in the early 1990s near St. Catharines.

Last week, the Canadian Parole Board determined that the families of both girls could give in-person statements on Tuesday, which the mother of Mahaffy did. French's mother gave her statement remotely. The 60-year-old Bernardo told the board he was seeking day parole at a halfway house, or escorted absences from prison so that he can attend a community program for sex offenders. Both of those requests were denied. 

Bernardo was transferred to the medium-security La Macaza Institution from a maximum-security Ontario prison last year. 

(Written by: Matt Latour)