David Shearing is pictured in a 1983 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ files
July 24, 2014 - 4:40 PM
WEST KELOWNA, B.C. - A man convicted of killing six members of a British Columbia family 32 years ago has withdrawn his application for day parole and waived his right to a parole review.
David Shearing, who changed his name to David Ennis, shot and killed George and Edith Bentley, their adult daughter Jackie and her husband, Bob Johnson in Wells Grey Provincial Park, near Clearwater in August 1982.
He kept the Johnsons' daughters, 13-year-old Janet and 11-year-old Karen, alive for almost a week and sexually assaulted them before killing them.
Ennis was to attend a parole hearing in Calgary in September, but the National Parole Board says he has withdrawn the application.
Tammy Arishenkoff (air-eh-SHEN'-KOFF'), who was Janet's friend, says she's was surprised by the news and thankful he didn't wait until the last minute to cancel his hearing.
Arishenkoff launched an online petition supporting a bill put forward by local MP Dan Albas to increase parole ineligibility from 25 years to 40 years. (CKFR)
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014