Indigenous groups condemn full parole for man convicted of manslaughter

The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to Brayden Bushby, who was convicted of manslaughter following a 2017 attack on Barbara Kentner. Kentner, a member of the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, died from health complications months after being struck in the abdomen by a trailer hitch thrown from a moving vehicle in Thunder Bay.

Indigenous organizations, including the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, have expressed shock and anger over the decision. They described the parole as a ‘profound injustice’ and ‘incomprehensible,’ stating that it sends a message that Indigenous lives are expendable. The Nishnawbe Aski Nation noted that the board’s own decision stated Bushby had not expressed remorse for the victim and simply ‘wants to move on.’

In its assessment, the Parole Board examined Bushby’s history of substance abuse and conduct during incarceration. Reported incidents during his sentence included driving under the influence, leaving the scene of a minor collision, and carving a swastika into the lawn on prison grounds. Despite these factors, the board deemed him a low risk for reoffending.