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The Appeal Division of the Parole Board of Canada has turned down another challenge by notorious conman Albert Walker to receive day parole.
The former Paris, Ontario, man has been serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of a UK man in a crime that saw him dubbed The Rolex Killer.
Walker was convicted in Britain for that murder and for multiple thefts from friends and neighbours totalling millions in an investment scam. He was transferred to a Canadian prison in British Columbia in 2005.
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Recently, he’s been approved by Correctional Services Canada for day parole but the Parole Board of Canada continues to turn him down.
“Your lack of progress in addressing your risk factors was a determinative factor in the board’s decision to deny day parole,” says an appeal decision released two weeks ago.
“The appeal division concludes that the review of your case was procedurally fair (and) affirms the board’s decision … to deny your day parole.”
Described as a charismatic conman, Walker fled Canada with an estimated $3.2 million in investors’ money in 1990, taking his 15-year-old daughter with him.
In England, he assumed a British man’s identity and home. When that man, Ronald Platt, wanted to return to his previous life, Walker took him fishing.
Platt’s body was found, weighed down by an anchor, in the English Channel and later identified by the Rolex he was wearing.
Walker also passed himself off as his daughter’s husband.
The tale captivated the media, resulting in books, a TV movie and a story-line on the British soap opera, Coronation Street.
In his appeal, Walker and his lawyer argued he didn’t get a proper hearing for his recent parole plea and he’s working on his risk factors even though the parole board said he’s ignoring them.
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A psychological assessment categorized him with a “moderate risk” of offending.
“The board was concerned that the structure and supervision of a regular day parole would provide you access to potential victims and would increase the difficulty to monitor your behaviour towards others,” says the report.
The board did make a mistake, according to the appeals division: it said Walker had a prior conviction on his record for forcing his way into his ex-wife’s home in 1991 but the record shows that charge was later withdrawn, with no conviction.
The appeals division ruled that incident played a minor part of the decision in comparison to “premeditated murder and committing serious financial crimes involving large amounts of money from people who trusted you.”
Walker is about 79 years old now, and has had several escorted leaves from his minimum-security prison, some to attend church.
In 2023, he was allowed to participate in a two-month-long, closely monitored, unescorted course called Choices, but raised concerns when he told counsellors there that he had no risk factors.
The parole board’s original decision cited Walker’s smooth and affable behaviour and his habit of minimizing his crimes as concerns.
His victims, many who lost entire life savings, have provided written statements to the board saying they believe Walker will return to white-collar crime if given a chance.
SGamble@postmedia.com
@EXPSGamble
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