Day parole granted for notorious killer-conman

Albert Walker, a convicted killer and multi-million-dollar conman, from Paris, Ontario, is being slowly reintegrated into society in British Columbia.

After a hearing before the Parole Board of Canada earlier this month, Walker, now 77, was granted a limited day parole so he can participate in a 60-day relapse prevention program.

“(Correctional Service Canada) believes the proposed (unescorted absence) is the next reasonable step in a gradual and structured return to the community,” said Walker’s parole decision.

“The Board concludes your risk on a limited duration day parole would not be undue,” said the report. “It will facilitate your reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen.”

But those making the decision indicated they have not forgotten Walker’s considerable charm and ability to con people.

“You have been described as a charismatic and very manipulative individual who engages in a high level of impression management,” said the report, noting that he was able to have his own child pose as his wife while they were both living under assumed identities in England.

In 1990, Walker fled Paris, taking $2-3 million collected through Walker Financial Services, much of it from elderly friends, family and fellow church-goers.

With his 15-year-old daughter, Walker settled in England, assuming the identity of a man named Ronald Platt. Walker, who killed Platt in 1996, became known as “The Rolex Killer” for the watch that eventually identified the man’s body found weighed down by an anchor.

Walker has admitted to disposing of Platt’s body, but said it was after they fought and he only prevented the man from re-boarding a boat until he drowned.

The English judge sentencing Walker said “You are a plausible, intelligent, ruthless man and a considerable threat to anyone who stands in your way.”

Walker was convicted of the murder in England in 1998 and faced multiple fraud charges back in Ontario where he eventually pleaded guilty in 2007 and was sentenced to four further years in prison for bilking 23 people.

For a time, Walker was one of Canada’s most-wanted criminals and his sordid story led to books, a TV movie and a story-line on the popular British soap opera, Coronation Street.

His daughter, with two children whose paternity has not been made public, returned to the Paris area. She testified against her father in England but rarely spoke of him once she was home.

During one interview, Sheena Walker said she wanted to protect her family from her father as she feared for their safety.

Walker was moved to a minimum security prison in British Columbia more than six years ago and has been applying for various forms of parole since, eventually winning the right to some escorted absences.

In September 2014 he completed escorted absences without a problem but, in July 2021, he was denied both day or “unescorted temporary absence” and full parole.

He appealed that decision but in November 2021 the board upheld the ruling, denying him any leave, which he said he wanted in order to go to church or to a drug rehabilitation program.

In April 2022, the board authorized five escorted absences so he could “develop community support and work with a Community Residential Facility in preparation to attend the Choices program.”

He’s also been attending church services with an escort.

The Choices program will allow Walker out on a 60-day unescorted absence but he must return to his facility by 9 pm each night.

According to a parole board report, Walker has been taking computer lessons and learning about internet safety, working on getting identification documents and how to get his BC medical coverage.

He’s under a restitution order which “far exceeds” his anticipated income for years. So far he’s paid $1,500 and told the parole board he was foregoing getting a Master’s degree so he could use the money for restitution instead.

His absence plan has rules he has to follow: Walker must report all relationships to his parole supervisor; have no contact with female children under the age of 16 unless with a responsible adult who knows his history; documented provide financial information on a regular schedule; steer clear of financial or investment work for any person, charity or business; have no other ID except under his own name; have no contact with his victims, including his ex-wife; and stay out of Ontario.

“These special conditions are directly related to your pattern of offending,” says the report.

“Your associations with others need to be monitored for the types of vulnerabilities you have capitalized upon in the past.”

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