Beamish gets day parole 31 years after killing Shirley Ann Duguay; can't return to P.E.I.
Douglas Leo Beamish must also report any changes in relationships with women
A Prince Edward Island man who served 29 years on a life sentence for killing his past partner has been released from a federal prison into a halfway house — with the condition that he not return to the province.
Douglas Leo Beamish's day parole was granted in late May. He has been in custody since he was arrested in 1995 — the year after he killed Shirley Ann Duguay.
Her body was found in a shallow grave after she disappeared from her home in Prince County on Oct. 3, 1994. She died of a blunt-force injury and suffocation.
Beamish was eventually convicted of second-degree murder in a 1996 jury trial. The case made international news, as it was notably the first time animal DNA was used in a court case.
Beamish was living with his parents at the time of the murder and was estranged from Duguay, with whom he shared children.
Several white feline hairs were found on the jacket Duguay was buried with. At the trial, experts testified and were able to prove those hairs belonged to the Beamish family cat, Snowball.
'An innocent victim'
Beamish had previously been granted unescorted passes from prison, but the day parole and pre-release to a halfway house for six months marks the latest substantial development in his re-integration into society.
The conditions of his release include that he not use drugs and alcohol, not travel to Prince Edward Island and have no contact with members of Duguay's family, save for one person whose identity was redacted in the documents provided to CBC News.
"Shirley, my sister, was an innocent victim," Marie Arsenault said in a text message to CBC News.
She said her perspective has not changed over the years. She believes Beamish should be in jail for the rest of his life in exchange for ending Duguay's.
"He is able to now have day visits/parole and visits with his family where he can hug and hold them," she wrote.
"But not Shirley's family."
Another condition of Beamish's release is that he has to "immediately report all intimate sexual and non-sexual relationships and friendships with females" and any changes to the statuses of those relationships or any attempts to initiate them.
"Information on file describes you as a controlling, manipulative and an abusive partner in your intimate relationships. You have acknowledged that you had difficulty controlling your anger and walking away from conflict situations, and that you could be impulsive," the Parole Board of Canada's written decision reads.
"You allowed anger and jealousy to take over your emotions and lose control to the point where you took the life of your intimate partner…. The Board believes you have developed skills to manage your emotions and to better listen and understand people."
The seven pages describe Beamish's journey in prison over time. It notes he's had problematic behaviour in the past, but that much of that has changed in recent years and he's been in a lower security facility since 2021.
"Your level of motivation and accountability are assessed as high, while your reintegration potential is assessed as medium. You are considered engaged in your correctional plan."
Beamish does not have any supports outside of the residential facility he's being released to, so he will not be allowed leave from the facility, and will need to return every night.
Beamish will be able to continue working, and his family will be able to visit him.
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