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Man convicted in double murder is up for parole

DELTA - One of three men convicted in a Tsawwassen double murder more than two decades ago is up for parole again this week.

 

Derik Lord, who is now in his early 40s, was one of three teens convicted in the slayings of his friend's mother and grandmother in a murder-for-hire inheritance plot in October of 1990.

 

He was convicted of first-degree murder in 1992 and sentenced to life in prison without a chance for parole for 10 years in the deaths of Sharon Huenemann and Doris Leatherbarrow.

 

As a young offender at the time of his conviction - he was just 16 at the time of the murder - no parole for 10 years was the maximum sentence the judge could hand down.

 

Lord is scheduled to appear before the parole board on Thursday.

 

Throughout the investigation of the murder, his trial and his incarceration, Lord

 

has maintained his innocence.

 

Initially eligible for parole in 2002, he has repeatedly been denied day and full parole. Last year, Lord Launched an appeal over a 2013 parole board decision denying day and full parole, as well as unescorted temporary absences, stating the board based its decision on erroneous and/or incomplete information, and that the decision was unreasonable.

 

The parole board has said that correctional staff is unable to properly address his risk factors due to his continued denial of the offence and, therefore, cannot support his release despite recognizing he has made improvements in recent years.

 

Darren Huenemann, the mastermind behind the murders of his mother and grandmother, and co-accused David Muir both admitted their roles in the double slaying.

 

Huenemann, who was sentenced as an adult, received a life sentence and remains in prison while Muir served his 10-year sentence and was released a decade ago.

 

jkerr@delta-optimist.com