SYDNEY, N.S. — A two-member panel of the Parole Board of Canada has extended day parole for another six months for a former Cape Breton man sentenced to life in prison on a charge of murder.
Travis Alexander MacLeod, 45, formerly of Malagawatch, Inverness County, pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in relation to the May 2001 death of 19-year-old Yancy Meyer of Antigonish.
MacLeod was arrested in June 2001, a month after Meyer, a student at St. Francis Xavier University, was stabbed three times while working the back shift alone at Needs Convenience Store in Antigonish.
MacLeod was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 14.5 years.
MacLeod admitted that his crime was an attempt to repay a drug debt. Having struggled with drug addiction for years, he feared his life was in danger in not being able to repay the debt and concluded that a robbery was the best way to raise the cash.
MacLeod was first granted day parole for six months in March. The board’s most recent decision now extends day parole for an additional six months.
He is being housed in a minimum-security facility and during his first round of day parole, he did secure a job which resulted in the purchase of a bicycle. However, the bike was stolen but later recovered before it was stolen again. According to the decision, MacLeod is continuing to save for a new bike.
Over the course of his life, the board noted that MacLeod has spent about 19 years in the federal prison system and has completed a gamut of programming from dealing with substance abuse to respectful relationships.
“You have demonstrated a genuine remorse for your offence and for affecting the victim’s family’s mental and emotional health,” states the board’s decision.
“You have participated in all program interventions that have been required of you and you have demonstrated that you are capable of implementing the skills that you have learned into your everyday life.”
The board panel also noted that MacLeod in showing increased stability when it comes to dealing with mental health issues and is more confident and willing to seek help.
“At the same time, you recognize the importance of moving slowly as to not get overwhelmed, stressed or anxious. Additional time on day parole will afford you the opportunity to further become stable financially, emotionally and achieve some short-term goals,” stated the panel.
Among the conditions imposed on MacLeod during his next round of day parole — he is to refrain from alcohol and drugs not prescribed to him and he is not to have any contact with the victims or anyone he believes to be involved in criminal activity or substance abuse. MacLeod is to seek employment and follow all psychological counselling recommendations along with taking his medication as prescribed. He is also to follow his management team’s treatment plan.
