Family relieved Korah Collegiate girl's killer denied parole

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Patrizia Mastroianni's killer has again been denied parole because he presents "an undue risk to society" if released.

The Parole Board of Canada rejected Russell Colwell's request for full parole in a Nov. 10 decision.

The 53-year-old has been in a federal penitentiary for most of his adult life after his 1988 conviction in the high school student's brutal murder.

He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life behind bars with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Mastroianni, 14, was murdered Oct. 14, 1987 in a first-floor washroom at Korah Collegiate where she was a Grade 9 student.

Her attacker attempted to sexually assault the teen and then stabbed her numerous times in the neck, chest and abdomen after following her into a cubicle.

She died from blood loss from the multiple wounds inflicted by Colwell, a Korah graduate who was a first-year student in Lake Superior State University's law and security program.

Her jugular vein and carotid artery were severed in the vicious attack.

A fellow student discovered her body.

It was reported that Colwell, 20, had been stalking the washroom before the victim entered it alone.

Carmela Roznik and Tiziana Palumbo, who are Patrizia's sisters, say the family is relieved by the parole board's decision.

This is the second parole hearing in seven years, and it has definitely been painful and difficult "as there are no words to fully capture the depth of our loss and anguish," Roznik told Sootoday in an email.

"Thirty-four years have passed since Patricia was so brutally taken from us, but the memories of that horrendous time are just as vivid as they were then," she said.

"We remain adamant that the offender should never be allowed out of prison and we will continue to be the voice of Patricia."

Roznik was 17 and Palumbo was 11 when their sister's life was taken in what prosecutors described at the trial as a motiveless crime.

In its decision, the parole board noted Colwell had no prior criminal record, but had a history of exhibitionism, including exposing himself to females in school and home environments prior to the attack.

He also had violent sexual fantasies.

"You planned to sexually assault a female and loitered around your old high school waiting for an opportunity," the board said.

"The victim was not the object of your rage, but an innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time."

In addition to denying full parole, the board suggested a graduated and structural release is necessary given Colwell's risk index and lengthy period of incarceration.

After he was imprisoned Colwell spent three years in maximum security before being transferred to medium security.

In 1995, he incurred two institutional charges and was placed in segregation because of his attitude and behaviour towards female staff, which included exposing himself and locking himself in a women's washroom when he was working as a cleaner.

The following year he was returned to maximum security. His behaviour improved and in 1998 he cascaded to medium security, where he maintained employment and participated in programs.

In 2006, Colwell was transferred to an open concept medium institution, and remains there today.

The parole board referred to a May 19, 2021 Psychological Risk Assessment, which determined he is in the average range of sexual recidivism among sex offenders.

In the report, the psychologist noted the next logical step in Colwell's reintegration into society is to work towards a transfer to minimum security __ a step supported by his Case Management Team, the board said.

It noted Colwell is in the process of putting together a release plan that includes gradual re-integration into the community.

The Correctional Service of Canada had recommended that full parole be denied because it's too premature, given Colwell requires "a sustained and successful period of day parole" because of his lengthy incarceration.