A Barrie man who has been behind bars for murdering his estranged wife nearly 15 years ago, and who was granted day parole back in the spring, has had his parole extended for another six months.
Daniel Simon, now 62, was convicted of second-degree murder for stabbing and killing Michelle Simon in June 2009. He has been serving a life sentence.
The Parole Board of Canada originally granted a request for day parole for a six-month period, in a ruling filed April 25.
In the latest decision, dated Oct. 18, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has recommended that the board continue Simon’s day parole for a further six-month period.
“Your current CBRF (community-based residential facilities) remain supportive given your positive progress,” the panel notes in the report. “They point out that you have been compliant with all requests and requirements, and ‘engaged in the correctional process’. You have been meeting with a psychologist, attending Indigenous program and activities, and working full-time. All your urinalyses have returned negative for illicit substances. They also note your family support.”
Following a separation with his wife, Daniel Simon forced his way into her Mary Street home. While there, he stabbed her multiple times, the documents reveal.
“You left the apartment and made attempts to hide your involvement by changing your clothes and discarding your blood-stained clothing in a dumpster nearby,” the board members wrote in their decision in April.
“When you returned, you asked a passerby to contact 911. Police attended and found the victim dead with lacerations to her body," they added.
Michelle Simon's cause of death was a stab wound to the left chest into the front wall of the heart, the documents show.
The building where the killing took place, south of Dunlop Street West, has since been demolished to make way for a highrise development.
Daniel Simon also had a lengthy criminal history, with numerous convictions, which include mischief, robbery, weapons offences, assault and assaulting a peace officer.
Simon’s original release was described as a “strong, well-supported plan for day parole,” where he will reside at a CBRF, “where you garnered support … and indicated you would participate in recommended interventions, including meeting with an elder and attending counselling,” as he is a member of Algonquin First Nations.
The CSC recommended day parole be granted “as your risk is considered manageable with the proposed release plan and supervision strategy.”
CSC recommended full parole be denied, however, as it is considered premature, and they continue this recommendation.
Victim impact statements in 2017 and 2023 convey “the profound and lasting harm caused by your actions," highlighting "your extensive criminal record, including your explosive violence. The victim requests a geographic restriction,” the decision read.
Clinical observation from 2023 suggested Simon’s risk “may have been reduced to low due to core programming completion and your age. Your empathy for the victims and remorse over your actions form an important part of the changes you have made,” the board members said.
“All considered, the board believes you are well positioned to benefit from a day parole,” they noted at the time.
Conditions of Simon’s release include immediately reporting all sexual and non-sexual relationships and friendships with females, and he is not to consume, purchase or possess alcohol or drugs.
Additionally, he must also continue to meet with a "culturally appropriate" mental health professional to address childhood trauma and reintegration stressors, as outlined in his April review.
Simon is to continue to have no direct or indirect contact with any member of the victim's family, and must not enter the geographical areas of Napanee, Kingston and Brockville without prior written approval.
