Convicted child killer Guy Turcotte seeks escorted temporary release from prison

Guy Turcotte, a former cardiologist from Quebec who was found guilty in 2015 of second-degree murder for the stabbing deaths of his children Olivier, 5, and Anne-Sophie, 3, is applying for an escorted temporary absence from prison. The request will be considered by the Parole Board of Canada at a hearing on September 22. Such temporary releases allow inmates to leave a correctional facility for a limited period under supervision, often for medical treatment, counseling, family contact or compassionate grounds.

The board will examine Turcotte’s behavior while incarcerated, the likelihood of reoffending, and the specifics of his proposed leave. Isabelle Gaston, the children’s mother and Turcotte’s former spouse, plans to read a letter at the hearing and called for a prudent and thorough assessment. Turcotte was originally deemed not criminally responsible in a 2011 trial due to mental-health issues linked to a troubled marriage, but was later convicted and sentenced to life with no parole eligibility for 17 years.