Fish findings disappoint

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star - May 14, 2008

A Vernon councillor has expressed extreme disappointment about the joint report issued by Correctional Services Canada and the National Parole Board in regards to paroled murderer Eric Fish’s supervision while at a Vernon halfway house. Fish walked away from Vernon’s Howard House in June, 2004, and was responsible for the home invasion death of Vernon senior William Abramenko. Fish pleaded guilty to the murder last fall. The report said there were no factors that would have led those responsible for the management of Fish to believe he’d commit a serious offence. “Nobody is taking responsibility for what transpired,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell during Monday’s regular council meeting. “I’m not saying the parties who have given us this report are the ones responsible. This report indicates they are not responsible. “But the report does not satisfy the concerns of council or a lot of people in this community.” Fish did not return to the halfway house in June of 2004, and was not discovered by RCMP until two days after Abramenko’s death, despite several reported sightings of him in the community prior to the home invasion. Coun. Patrick Nicol called for the RCMP to provide more details. “It’s widely known this individual had been sighted by citizens after committing some break-and-enters,” said Nicol. “Someone should be addressing that.” The joint report exonerated those agencies involved in supervising Fish, and made a number of recommendations to help make sure a similar incident never occurs again. Vernon RCMP Insp. Steve McVarnock said he read a copy of the report and was in total agreement with its recommendations.

“In an incident like this, someone should commission a hearing that requires anybody and everybody involved to discuss what happened to help reach a determination,” said Beardsell. “This report doesn’t do it. I’m not saying the RCMP are solely responsible, but why not call them to explain their role?” Mayor Wayne Lippert agreed with a statement made by Coun. Juliette Cunningham that Vernon should not open another halfway house until all the answers in the Fish matter are answered. “I think we owe that to the family and the community,” said Lippert. “Council needs to be able to look at what the community is looking for. And until we have those answers, we need to look at restricting those types of activities. “Our decision needs to be an informed one.” The Howard House is currently used as a men’s emergency shelter, and houses beds for men who are working and can afford to pay rent.The John Howard Society, which operates the facility, has said, at this time, it is not entertaining thoughts of being a service agency for a new halfway house in the community.