Edmonton killer denied escorted temporary absence by parole board

EDMONTON – An Edmonton man convicted of first-degree murder for killing a former friend and business associate has been denied an application for escorted temporary absences in order to visit his family at home.

The Parole Board of Canada noted that George William Allen still has 11 years to go before he is eligible even for day parole.

The two-member board panel said although Allen has behaved well in prison and has completed some counselling, he has a past history of violence and needs to gain more insight into his addictions, family abuse issues and grief and loss issues.

Allen, now 64, is serving a life sentence with no parole for 25 years after being convicted of killing Garry McGrath when the two got into a disagreement about storing firewood on Allen’s property.

Allen claimed McGrath had threatened him with a chainsaw and that he struck him in the head in self-defence.

But those claims were undermined by his admission to undercover RCMP officers that he had been the aggressor, head-butting and elbowing McGrath to the ground before caving in the back of McGrath’s head with a lead-filled hammer.

He also buried McGrath’s body in a hole, later telling undercover Mounties he had dug that hole and threatened to put his daughter’s boyfriend in it.

Allen unsuccessfully appealed both his conviction and sentence but the parole board said he plans to apply for the faint-hope clause, which lets those serving life sentences seek early parole.

He is currently eligible for full parole on Oct. 5, 2030 — he would be 78 years old.