The families of Paul Bernardo’s victims have been barred from attending the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, according to the attorney representing the loved ones of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.

In an open letter, attorney Tim Danson said the parole board recently told the families they would not be allowed to attend next week’s hearing in person, indicating the parole board “cannot ensure the safety and security of all participants in the hearing”.

“We have not been given any other details. With respect, this is not only unacceptable, but remarkably insensitive to the Mahaffy and French families,” Danson wrote.

“Absent exceptional circumstances, families have a legal right to read their victim impact statements in person.”

Speaking on Newstalk 1010 on Wednesday morning, Danson said families had a strong desire to make their statements in person.

“They themselves want to be physically present … and make their daughter’s memory and presence there as strong as possible,” Danson said.

“They give victim impact statements, they talk about the impact this horrific crime has had on them and their daughters. You can’t get more personal and human than that, so they want to convey how they feel in the most direct and human way possible, which means being physically present.”

Bernardo, who was moved from Ontario to a medium-security prison located about 200 kilometers northwest of Montreal in May, is currently serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of elderly Kristen French 15 years old and 14 years old. old Leslie Mahaffy.

Teenage girls were kidnapped and killed in the early 1990s near St. Catharines, Ont.

Danson said he was perplexed by the parole board’s limited explanation.

“I can’t say that the French and the Mahaffys are any kind of security or safety problem. I went to Bernardo’s first parole hearing and they attended in person,” he said.

“If it meant Paul Bernardo himself, well, that would be remarkable. If so, then what does he do in medium security? It should have been sent back to full.”

CP24 has reached out to the Password Board of Canada for comment.

Danson said the families were assured that when Bernardo was moved to Quebec, they would be able to attend his parole hearings in person.

Danson called the decision a “mystery” that is “very, very unfair.”

“I have no idea why I’m doing it wrong,” he said.

“We are asking that this decision be overturned, that the parole hearing scheduled for next Tuesday be postponed. Just a short delay, maybe in December. It may just be a matter of a few weeks so we can make proper travel arrangements.”