Man convicted in Korah murder denied day parole

A local man who brutally murdered a girl 27 years ago in a washroom at her Sault Ste. Marie high school has been denied day parole.

The Parole Board of Canada rejected Russell Colwell's request for day release earlier this month, citing the "undue" risk he presents.

Colwell was 20 when he was found guilty of first-degree murder in the Oct. 14, 1987 stabbing death of Patrizia Mastroianni.

The 14-year-old Grade 9 student, who was killed in a first-floor washroom at Korah Collegiate, died from blood loss from multiple stab wounds inflicted by Colwell after he followed her into the cubicle and attacked her.

Her body was discovered by a fellow student.

Her jugular vein and carotid artery were severed in the vicious attack. There was evidence that Colwell had attempted to sexually assault her.

The Gros Cap man was convicted in January 1988 and sentenced to life in a federal penitentiary with no chance of parole for 25 years.

A Korah grad, Colwell was a first-year student in Lake Superior State University's law and security program.

His attempt to drown himself in the St. Mary's River after the murder was thwarted by onlookers and led to his arrest the following day.

Mastroianni's family are "relieved" by the decision not to grant Colwell day parole, her sister Tiziana Palumbo said.

In its decision, the parole board said that a victim statement by one of Mastroianni's sisters outlined the immense loss felt by the family and the "emotional and psycholgical trauma they continue to suffer as the result of the tragic circumstances of her death."

The board indicated that numerous statements also had been filed by local residents which showed "the lasting effect the offence has had on the community as a whole."

It also noted that Colwell had "displayed no emotion" when the lengthy victim statement was presented at his hearing.

Colwell was seeking release to a community residential facility in Ottawa, but had no support from his case magement team and the community parole office. As well, the four residences in Ottawa refused to give him accomodations.

During his time in prison, Colwell described having violent sexual fantasies towards women when he was a teenager and how he fantasized about controlling them.

In 1996, he was moved to a maximum security penitentiary because he was viewed as a risk to female staff because he "persistently exposed" himself to them.

He also was assessed as posing a risk to be a hostage taker.

Colwell was returned to medium security two years later after his behaviour improved.

When he met with the parole board, Colwell  indicated he had been abused by his parents and learned to cope with his emotions by using violence.

He said he fantasized about weapons and that weapons made him feel powerful, a coping strategy for his feelings of vulnerability.

Although he has participated in some programs, the Correctional Service of Canada feels further programming gains aren't expected to significantly reduce his risk factors, the board said.

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