The next hearing date of the Saskatchewan Review Board into Layne Larose has been scheduled for May 6.
The hearing date comes on the heels of a Jan. 15 hearing into Larose and its subsequent decision, obtained by the News-Optimist this week. The hearing took place at Saskatchewan Hospital.
Larose, age 53, was found not criminally responsible due to mental illness in connection to the axe-killing deaths of David Kennedy and Hughie Sayers on May 28, 2002 in North Battleford.
Since then, he had been treated at Saskatchewan Hospital and, since 2011, released and able to live in the community, while remaining under the jurisdiction of the Review Board.
The Review Board has noted “consistent progress” on the part of Larose, who according to their decisions has co-operated in taking medication, has attended his scheduled appointments, and has remained free of drugs or alcohol.
Still, there have been some issues along the way, including in 2013 when Larose was reprimanded by the Review Board for violating one of his conditions of release by going to a bar to gamble.
At its most recent hearings over the past year, the Review Board has considered the prospect of absolutely discharging Larose from its jurisdiction.
This is something the board would be required to do if it is “unable to find any evidence of a significant risk to the public,” according to the wording in its most recent decision.
But after their January 2015 hearing, the board retained its jurisdiction over Larose. A further Review Board hearing was held April 24, 2015, at which time new concerns were raised.
According to its reasons from that hearing released May 20, it was noted “although Layne has established a consistent pattern of progress, unfortunately Layne also has demonstrated a lack of judgment and a willingness to push the limits. Recently, he was at a house party when an argument broke out and he punched an individual.”
In response, it was recommended Larose once again take anger management lessons, something he had done before.
According to a letter submitted to the Jan. 15 hearing from Dr. David MacKinnon, psychologist with Battlefords Mental Health Centre, Larose “attended appointments regularly and was attentive and co-operative. He completed the worksheets assigned to him and was able to apply techniques to his situation. Layne has developed a good basic understanding of anger management principles and techniques.”
As well, a psychological risk assessment report, dated Dec. 31, was done by Ms. F.C. Sothmann. A psychiatric rehabilitation report dated Jan. 5 was filed by Glenna Olenick, CMHN. These were also submitted for the Review Board’s Jan. 15 hearing.
According to Sothmann’s report, it was noted “Mr. Larose’s risk of violence is very much connected with his mental health stability. Information gathered for this assessment indicated that Mr. Larose is not an imminent threat to himself or the public. Recommendations are that he maintains his medication regimen and sobriety. He would benefit from reminders about the conditions of his release and be provided with various scenarios that can increase his risk of breaching (ie. unhealthy relationships, gambling, being around illicit substances). He has not engaged in any serious physical violence, but rather tends to make decisions, minor as they may be, with little forethought.”
It was also noted Larose currently has “few responsibilities and little time is spent in a productive manner consistent with the testing and previous reports, Mr. Larose continues to hold onto his antisocial attitudes that limit further progress in prosocial engagement, however, he does not currently pose a risk to reoffend violently. Until his attitude changes, Mr. Larose will not likely become a productive member of society, and given his age, such changes are not likely.”
Rather than give a ruling on Larose at the Jan. 15 hearing, the board noted Larose should be given an opportunity to review the detailed risk assessment and instruct counsel as to his response.
As well, Larose’s previous psychiatrist had retired and the review board is requiring Larose to have both an assigned psychiatrist on an ongoing basis, as well as a current report from that psychiatrist.
That psychiatrist is to report back to the board on Larose’s current circumstances by April 30, in time for the May 6 Review Board hearing.
