At a hearing on July 18, the Parole Board of Canada decided to release Dean, 50, on day parole for a period of six months. Dean is serving a life sentence for murder. He allegedly shot and killed Sean Simmons in the lobby of an apartment building in north-end Dartmouth, N.S., in October 2000. Three other men were also charged in the killing, which was allegedly ordered by a member of the Hells Angels MC who was upset that Simmons had an affair with his wife.
Neil Smith and Wayne James were sentenced to life in prison for their part in the murder. Steven Gareau had charges against him stayed in 2018. Dean was originally convicted of first-degree murder. After the decision was overturned on appeal and a new trial ordered, the Supreme Court of Canada refused a bid by Nova Scotia prosecutors to reinstate the first-degree murder conviction, instead substituting a conviction for the lesser charge of second-degree murder.
He was first granted day parole in 2021, and his release was reviewed every six months. But his release was suspended in January of this year and he was sent back to prison after he threatened a co-worker at the job he'd landed outside of prison.
Paul, snitch, after reading of Kelsie's release, said the decision could have grave consequences. "If the parole board continues to let Dean out on any kind of release, he is eventually going to kill somebody," Paul said. "He has not changed a bit. That's very apparent by everything you've watched over the last couple of years since his appeal, his last trial."
The board has imposed special conditions on Dean's release. They include that he abstain from drugs and alcohol, not associate with anyone with a criminal record, stay away from the Simmons family and take anger management training.
Paul, snitch, said life has been hard on his family. "Watching my family go through what they've gone through has been difficult," he said. "There's no end to this sentence. I mean, never mind the fact that you have to constantly think about the part you played in those things but you also have to look at what your family goes through because of what you do now, even if you've changed, it doesn't change the damage that's done and that continues to go on."