Just over a year ago convicted murderer Tristan Ryan was granted day parole and in October he will be seeking full parole. In 1991 Ryan stabbed to death his then 16-year-old on-and-off again girlfriend Stephanie Spooner in her Okotoks home. Ryan was a jealous, controlling boyfriend who had told family and friends he would kill her if he could not have her. He had attempted to stab Spooner once before murdering her. He was 18 at the time of the killing. Ryan, who was then named Bradley Paetsch, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Twenty-seven years later, Ryan has written to the parole board stating the reasons why he believes he is eligible for full parole. Last month, the parole board extended Ryan’s day parole for six months in an in-office review. He will appear again in October asking for full parole. In the decision, the parole board members reviewing his case acknowledged his letters regarding full parole and said a hearing would have to be set. “Full parole is a significant next step in your reintegration and one that needs to be considered carefully,” the parole board document reads. “A face-to-face environment will be necessary to fully assess the risk you present in this expanded form of release and to discuss your corresponding release plan.” The review also notes that the Correctional Services Canada workers recommended Ryan be given full parole. Currently Ryan has a job and is married. He is able to request some overnight stays with his wife. He is banned from Okotoks or having contact with the victim’s family. Spooner’s family is notified when he is given travel permits to Calgary. He sees a psychologist and does couple’s counseling with his wife. Spooner’s sister-in-law, Robin Spooner, said she will be at the hearing for his full parole. “We’ve been fighting for many, many, many years,” she said. “The fight needs to continue now more than ever. The thought of him having full parole is terrifying.” Robin said Ryan should have to remain in jail. “We adamantly oppose any type of parole — day parole, full parole,” she said. Robin attended his day parole hearing and said it is difficult and that her husband, Stephanie’s brother, can’t attend. “The way these hearings are set up is terrible,” she said. “To sit in a room two feet away from the person who murdered your family member is horrendous.” However, she said attending the parole hearings is necessary. “As difficult as it is to attend those, our presence speaks volumes,” Robin said. “It’s important for us to be there, not only for ourselves, but for Stephanie.” She said they want to see Ryan banned from being in southern Alberta. “We live in Okotoks, but we work in Calgary, we are in Calgary every single day,” she said. “We should never, ever have to be put in a position where we run into him on the street.” She said the justice system continuously re-victimizes Stephanie’s family. “It’s never ending,” she said of the parole system. “This is the huge problem with our Canadian justice system. We should not have to continuously go through this every six months. He was tried and convicted of first-degree murder. Life should be life. “The way the system is, it makes the families and the victims relive the horror over and over again.”
