Remorseless rapist who left pregnant woman for dead in Banff denied parole
Albert Muckle raped and beat Julianne Courneya, who remains in vegetative state
A remorseless rapist who left a young, pregnant woman for dead is too dangerous to be released into the community, says the Parole Board of Canada in its most recent decision to deny Albert Muckle's bid for freedom.
"Your actions caused immeasurable pain and suffering both to your victim and her family," wrote the parole board panel, addressing Muckle directly.
"You were not able to demonstrate any insight into why you engaged in such a violent attack on a stranger, nor did you accept responsibility for the offence."
Fifteen years ago, Muckle befriended Julianne Courneya, who had been working at a Banff hotel.
He escorted the 21-year-old to a nearby park, where he beat her unconscious and stole $20. Muckle left only to return and raped Courneya before attempting to strangle her with her purse strap.
Courneya, who had been engaged to be married, was found unconscious hours later by a passerby.
Victim needs 'very high level of 24/7 care'
Muckle pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault and attempted murder. With a violent criminal history dating back to his teens, Muckle was declared a dangerous offender and handed an indefinite sentence.
In 2007, a publication ban on Courneya's identity was lifted at her family's request so fundraisers for her medical costs could go ahead.
She remains in a persistent vegetative state, unable to speak or move. She requires what her father described for the parole board as "a very high level of 24/7 care."
In a strongly worded decision released last week, the Parole Board of Canada heard Muckle is still a high to very high risk to reoffend.
New charges in prison
Since his last parole hearing in 2018, Muckle has made little to no progress. He has been charged and convicted of numerous offences including being found with "stabbing weapons" and threatening prison staff.
In the last two years, Muckle has been placed in segregation once and a structured intervention unit three times. He's also been removed from an institution because of poor behaviour.
Muckle, now 40, told the panel he wanted to participate in rehabilitative prison programs but his own "angry and impulsive" behaviour prevents him from completing treatment.
"You appear caught in a vicious cycle of disruptive and aggressive behaviour," said the parole board.
"He does not hesitate to verbally threaten clinical and security staff. His interactions with the co-inmates are also qualified as conflictual. He continues to require significant interventions at this time."
Traits of a psychopath
The board acknowledged Muckle's "very difficult and destructive upbringing," noting he was addicted to drugs and alcohol by the age of 13 and suffered every form of abuse at the various foster homes where he lived as a child.
Muckle was born in prison, grew up on the Wabaseemong (White Dog) First Nation reserve near Kenora, Ont., and began his criminal history at 12, spending most of his life in institutions and foster homes.
In 1999, he began a four-year prison sentence for stabbing a cab driver while in a drunken rage, according to a report in the Winnipeg Free Press.
In 2002, Muckle took part in a prison gang war and was transferred to another institution.
In a report prepared for his dangerous offender hearing in 2006, a court-appointed psychiatrist said Muckle had traits of a psychopath.
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