A Winnipeg man sentenced to life in prison after he chased down his estranged wife on a crowded Portage Avenue near Assiniboine Park and stabbed her to death has been granted day parole.
Bruce Stewner, 57, was convicted of second-degree murder in the killing of his wife, Kelly Lynn Stewner, and sentenced in 1995 to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 20 years.
Parole Board of Canada documents confirm Stewner was granted day parole on Nov. 28 for a period of six months. Parole documents obtained by the Free Press do not indicate the community to which Stewner has been released.
JEFF DE BOOY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Memorial for Kelly Stewner on Portage Avenue near the corner of Overdale Street, where she was killed by her husband, Bruce Stewner in 1994.
“You have come to understand your risk factors and have developed skills to mitigate and manage your elevated emotions when they are triggered,” the parole board said. “The board finds you have not been threatening for approximately a year and have demonstrated better emotional control and behaviour.”
Stewner’s release conditions include requirements he report all intimate relationships with women to his parole supervisor and that he not consume alcohol or drugs.
Stewner violated a restraining order when in May 1994 he chased his wife Kelly Lynn down Portage Avenue and stabbed her in front of terrified onlookers, shouting: “I told you, Kelly. I told you this would happen. You got what you deserved.”
Parole board documents say Stewner is a “moderate to high” risk to reoffend violently against an intimate partner.
“This suggests your relationships require close monitoring,” said the parole board.
Stewner’s release marks the third time he has been granted day parole. In 2013, his parole was revoked after he got re-involved with drugs, had multiple unreported sexual relationships, and tried to sabotage a urine test.
Stewner was granted day parole again in November 2016, but it was revoked nine months later after he failed to report an intimate relationship, breached his alcohol prohibition, and allegedly threatened someone.
Stewner applied for day parole again in June 2020 and February 2021, but was denied release.
Dean Pritchard
Courts reporter
Someone once said a journalist is just a reporter in a good suit. Dean Pritchard doesn’t own a good suit. But he knows a good lawsuit.
