Kelly Ellard, now known as Kerry Sim, has expressed deep concerns about a television series that dramatizes the murder of Reena Virk in 1997. Sim, who was 15 at the time of the murder, is serving a life sentence for the second-degree murder of Virk, who was 14. In documents released by the Parole Board of Canada, Sim argues that the show, titled ‘Under the Bridge,’ will ‘re-victimize’ Virk’s family and cause them further pain.
Sim, who has been granted day parole, has demonstrated ‘remorse and victim empathy’ in discussions with her case managers about the show. She acknowledges that she played a ‘greater role’ in Virk’s death than she had previously admitted and recognizes the horrific nature of the crime. However, she believes that the television show will only serve to reopen old wounds for Virk’s family.
The parole board’s decision to continue Sim’s day parole was based on her progress in managing stress, maintaining sobriety, and working towards her rehabilitation. The board determined that her release would ‘contribute to the protection of society by facilitating (her) reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen.’
Despite Sim’s concerns about the TV show, the production team has defended its decision to proceed with the project. They argue that the show is an important exploration of a tragic event that has had a profound impact on the community. The show’s creators believe that it can raise awareness about the issue of violence against young people and help prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
