Criminal history of man accused of killing Edmonton woman prompts calls for judicial reform

The death of an Edmonton woman, allegedly at the hands of the man she was trying to leave, has prompted calls for stronger support for victims attempting to flee intimate partner violence and improved judicial systems to rehabilitate repeat offenders.

The body of 32-year-old Aylissa Rovere was found on a rural property west of the city in mid-September, days after she had been reported missing by family.

Collin Boucher-Gionet, who has been charged with second-degree murder and indignity to human remains, is a repeat offender who was on probation at the time of the alleged killing.

He remains in custody. He has yet to enter a plea, and is due in court again Friday.

Experts say the case is a reminder of the need for improved supports for victims attempting to flee intimate-partner violence. They say it also demonstrates an urgent need for judicial reforms to better manage and rehabilitate repeat offenders to break the cycle of recidivism.

When he was arrested in Rovere's killing, Boucher-Gionet, 34, was on probation for threatening to kill a woman he considered his foster mother in August 2023.

Pre-sentence reports for his previous convictions show Boucher-Gionet has a history of family violence and has struggled with aggression and volatile personal relationships. He has had challenges with substance abuse and extreme jealousy and has shown "deep trust issues with women," the documents show.

Temitope Oriola, a University of Alberta criminologist, said the case illustrates how the courts often fail to manage the risk offenders can pose. He said it points to a "constellation of organizational failures" that fall short of rehabilitating repeat offenders before they are released into the community.

"As a system, we need to do better … in terms of how we respond to individuals with such lengthy criminal activities and backgrounds," Oriola said.

"We still do not do as good a job as we should with respect to the kinds of social services that an individual such as this would require."

Dan Jones, associate chair of justice studies at NorQuest College and a retired Edmonton police officer, said the case demonstrates the need for judicial reform.

Before they are granted release or probation, offenders should be more carefully assessed based on the severity of their convictions, the length of their criminal records and the likelihood of reoffending, Jones said.

"We expect them to come out better than they went in," he said. "And I think that's the system's failing."

The judicial system often overlooks the root causes of criminal activity and falls short on rehabilitation efforts, including therapy, counselling and treatment, Jones said.