The sister of the Penticton woman brutally murdered by retired RCMP officer Keith Wiens 13 years ago said she will never stop fighting for her sister until the day she dies... or when Wiens dies.
Shelley Pertelson participated in a special hearing on Nov. 22 where Wiens applied to the Parole Board of Canada for three unescorted passes -- one for seven days, a second for 10 days and a third for 15 days -- by sending a heartfelt victim impact statement to the board.
While the board eventually granted Wiens his request for seven and 10-day unescorted passes, they denied his request for a 15-day unescorted pass, she said.
And for the first time since Wiens killed her sister, Lynn Kalmring, 55, in cold blood on Aug. 16, 2011 in Penticton, he finally admitted he was solely responsible for her death.
He also admitted to being a “coward” for his attempt to place a knife in her hand and claim he acted in self-defence, said Pertelson, in a phone interview from her Salmon Arm home.
Wiens admitted “the courts got it all right” in finally admitting he murdered her sister after an argument in their home 13 years ago, said Pertelson.
“I can’t disclose where he’s going to go. I was told not to do that, so I won’t. He has a lot of conditions put on him,” Pertelson said.
She hasn’t received the exact details of the provisions that will be in place during his unescorted leaves, but she’s confident Wiens doesn’t like to play by the rules and will not be able to abide by strict conditions, she said.
It was difficult to read her victim impact statement before the parole board as it brings back so many heartbreaking memories, but she’s glad she did it, said Pertelson.
“Since this happened, I’ve made it very clear that life should be 25 years (in prison) at least,” she said. “My victim impact statement just repeated I believe he should not be released on full parole until he’s served the full 25 years.”
All she can do is keep in touch with Parole Board officials and make sure they know she and other family members will take the necessary steps to voice their opposition to him trying to become a free man, she said.
“All we can do is just wait for the next time he applies for something,” she said. “We just hope he messes up somewhere along the line before that happens.”
The fact Wiens was granted bail after being charged with murder only 13 years ago still bothers her, said Pertelson.
“He got out on bail and we weren’t even included in that decision,” she said. “He posted a $50,000 bond. His brother had to come and live with him from Ontario to be his surety. They couldn’t get along and ended up in a fight because they’re both arrogant people and his brother went back to Ontario without notifying anyone. So he brought in his 95-year-old father, who was supposed to look after him, which sounds crazy and it was.
“When police checked on him, they found out no one was staying at the house with him. He got arrested again and he went back into custody and has been in custody ever since.”
Pertelson said she’s confident Wiens will not be able to abide by his parole board conditions.
“I sure hope so,” she said. “We all hope so. The other outcome is death. Those are the only two things that will bring us satisfaction at this point. I have nothing else to hope for.”
When Wiens is eligible for full parole in 2026, she and other family members will be travelling to Ontario to make victim impact statements to the parole board in person, she said.
“We want to be there in person, as long as the parole board will allow us,” she said.
While the unescorted passes do allow him to move freely and do things like set up a bank account and go to church, he still has to abide by strict daily conditions, she said.
“He has to stay at a halfway house,” she said. “He has to take courses. He doesn’t get to travel around and do as he pleases and not report to anyone. If he’s told he can leave for an hour, he best be back in an hour or he’ll be reported and placed back in custody. He’s under very strict rules.”
She’s had close friends who have talked to her about “letting go” and not staying involved with Wiens and his bid for freedom, but she’s not willing to do that, said Pertelson.
Back in the summer of 2013 after being found guilty of second-degree murder, the attending judge said Wiens acted out of anger and “fueled by alcohol” after evidence was presented Wiens and Kalmring had been arguing over money on a regular basis in the weeks and months before she was killed.
The trial heard Wiens shot Kalmring in the face at close range, then placed a knife in her hand in a feeble attempt to claim self-defence before officers attended the scene.
The parole board decision stated Wiens’ alibi and consequent denials of guilt were troublesome.
“You have propagated falsehoods and presented different versions about what actually happened, including the narrative that you acted in self-defence when the victim came at you with a knife,” said the decision. “Not surprisingly, your case management team has questioned your candor, level of accountability and perceived gains.”
The fact Wiens has finally accepted full responsibility for his actions is a big step in the right direction.
“You have retracted the self-defence version, offering that you acted out of reactive frustration which was exacerbated by your intoxication,” said the decision. “You have also admitted that you placed the knife in the victim’s hand to bolster your self-defence motive.”
“You have spared no one in your web of deceit, including the victim whom you persistently blamed, her family who have had to defend and advocate for her, the police whom you claimed mishandled the investigation, the courts, (Correctional Service of Canada), and the board,” read the decision.
“Trifling with the truth to such an extent does reflect poorly on your transparency, credibility, authenticity and trustworthiness.”
Despite their concerns, the board did approve the unescorted passes, noting Wiens has abided by all the rules and regulations while under dozens of escorted passes over the past several years.
“It is the board’s opinion that you will not, by reoffending, present an undue risk to society during the absences.”
Kalmring’s daughter Brandy Cummings told The Herald the fact her mother’s killer could soon walk free infuriated and disturbed her.
“It just causes anxiety, so much anxiety,” she said. “Your blood turns cold for a second and here it is. He’s alive and my Mom isn’t and now he wants to be free.
“It does break my heart. The damage he’s caused to our family by his actions is continuing. It’s a huge ripple effect he’s caused in my family. All these years later, it’s still there. We’ve never had a chance to heal because of this. We always knew this day would come.”
Wiens is a retired Mountie who ended his career as the officer in charge of the Summerland detachment. In retirement, he took part-time work as a bus driver with Okanagan Skaha School District 67.
Kalmring, meanwhile, was a much-loved member of the community. She worked in care homes and her daughter recalls Lynn inviting downtrodden strangers into their home on Christmas Day for a meal. Shortly after a death, a Take Back the Night Walk in Penticton was dedicated in her memory.
