The man found not criminally responsible in an axe-killing in North Battleford was back in front of the Saskatchewan Review Board Thursday, April 25.
This time, the board was not hearing about progress in Layne Larose's battle with mental illness, but a setback.
The issue: Larose had violated a condition of release by travelling to the Denholm Bar to gamble there.
Lawyer George Combe of Legal Aid, representing Larose, explained to the review board that Larose went gambling there because "he was bored, he didn't think gambling was such a bad thing." He went three times to Denholm, said Combe.
For his part, Larose admitted the breach. "I feel pretty bad about it," he told the panel.
The breach prompted a stern warning from the panel to Larose. "It's a slip. Don't let it happen again," said Judge Hugh Harradence.
Larose was put on trial for murder following the axe-killings of David Kennedy and Hughie Sayers in 2002 in North Battleford, but was found not criminally responsible due to mental illness. Members of Kennedy's family were at the latest review board hearing.
Larose had spent a number of years confined at Saskatchewan Hospital, but was eventually released into the community, living at a group home in Saskatoon for a time before being permitted to move back to the Battlefords in 2012.
Numerous review board hearings had been held during that time and in recent years board members heard stories of progress as Larose kept up his medications and showed signs of improvement. But the latest hearing on Thursday afternoon at Saskatchewan Hospital was a different story.
One potential cause of the breach that was identified by several board members at the meeting was that Larose had not been working. He had moved back to the Battlefords in order to seek masonry work, but that was put on hold due to the lack of work during the winter.
Despite the breach, Combe pointed to a number of positives on Larose's part. Larose has a girlfriend now, Combe said, and had spent some time renovating his mother's house where he had been living. He is also anxious to get back to work, Combe said.
Panelists agreed that it was important for Larose to get back to work, which would address his boredom. There was also talk at the hearing about tightening Larose's conditions to include more specific prohibitions against entering a casino. There is already a condition against entering bars or liquor stores.
While Larose did go to the Denholm Bar he had not been drinking alcohol there, the board was told.
Review board panelists made clear they were not pleased with the breach of condition, and Larose was warned of the consequences if it were repeated. Board member Dr. Stephen Adams, who was Larose's psychiatrist when he was living in Saskatoon, told Larose he risked "losing those liberties you've worked so hard to gain."
While otherwise happy with his progress in general, Harradence made the observation that Larose was "constantly pushing the limits just a little bit."
As for the breach, Harradence said "I don't think it's the end of the world, but I'm a little disappointed."
