UVic student’s killer denied day parole for treatment

A Victoria man convicted of the 1987 murder of a 20-year-old Saanich woman has been denied day parole to attend substanceabuse treatment in the Lower Mainland.

Scott MacKay, 58, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Marguerite Telesford, whose body was never found. The University of Victoria education student’s bloody earmuffs were discovered on Mount Douglas Cross Road, along with a series of bloodstains, some hair, a spent shotgun shell and a pry bar.

The Crown’s theory was that MacKay, who had a history of violent assaults on vulnerable women, accosted Telesford as she ran. When she rebuffed him, he drove over her and then shot her.

MacKay maintained his innocence through the trial, but was convicted of first-degree murder, later reduced to seconddegree on appeal. He was sentenced to life with no possibility of parole for 15 years. MacKay applied for and was denied parole in 2004, 2011, 2013 and 2015.

The parole board’s decision notes that MacKay was on bail for sexual assault and unlawful confinement when he murdered Telesford. The decision also notes that the Correctional Service of Canada informed the parole board that MacKay is part of an ongoing investigation into another unnamed homicide.

MacKay’s risk to reoffend violently or sexually was deemed moderate to high in professional assessments. After participating in sexual treatment, he was diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder, sexual deviation and substance abuse. A psychologist found sexual deviancy, not substance abuse, is his most important risk factor, the decision said.

The board questioned MacKay’s application for day parole to attend substance-abuse treatment for 90 days at a Lower Mainland treatment centre or a community residential facility. MacKay has been sober and attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous in prison, the board noted.

Corrections reported to the board that MacKay’s issues are the nature and gravity of his sexual deviancy and violence against a number of women who were female sex trade workers, as well as Telesford, who was not.

Corrections found MacKay minimizes his offences and deflects responsibility. Although he has accepted responsibility for Telesford’s murder, MacKay says he has no memory of murdering Telesford and does not know where her remains are.

The board found MacKay’s anger towards women concerning, despite treatment, programming and working with elders.

“While the Board finds that you appear to be stable and sober in the institution, your violent criminal history, lack of insight into consent and coercion, failure to understand or express the roots of your anger towards women, and concerns about your sexual deviancy continue,” the board wrote in its decision.

“The board finds that the release plan specific to substance abuse is not designed or intended to address these outstanding concerns and that they remain serious barriers to you reducing your risk to an undue level.”

The board dismissed the application for day parole, finding MacKay presented an undue risk to society.