A petition that calls for the National Parole Board to deny parole to convicted murderer David (Shearing) Ennis appears to be getting a strong response.
“Lots of people are signing this year,” said Judy Briggs, one of the organizers. “The residents really seem to be behind this.”
Shearing was convicted in 1983 for the murder of six members of the Johnson-Bentley family near Wells Gray Park. The killings occurred in August 1982.
He was sentenced to life in jail, with no chance of parole for 25 years.
His initial parole application in 2008 was turned down. His next application will be heard this September.
The petition is available at six locations in Clearwater: Wells Gray Inn, Pharmasave, Bayley’s Bistro, The Dollar Store, Fields and Home Hardware.
The petitions will be out until July 25.
If any other businesses want to host the petition they should give her a call, said Briggs.
The organizer added that letters are even more effective than names on a petition.
“They don’t need to be very long and must be received by July 2, 2012,” she said. “People don’t need to use their names and addresses when they write - initials will do.”
Briggs asked that letters be sent to: National Parole Board, Scotia Place, Scotia 2, Suite 401, 10060 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, T5J 3R8, Attn: Cory Black.