Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of violence that may be disturbing to some readers.
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that → contain → readers
A B.C. man serving a sentence for murder is causing waves at McGill University in Montreal.
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man → serve → Montreal
Jeffrey Ewart has been attending law school at the university since September and not all students are happy to be sharing classes with a convicted killer.
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students → attend → killer
Ewert, now in his 60s, was convicted in the 1980s of second-degree murder and attempted murder involving violent attacks committed in British Columbia on two female victims, one of whom was 15 years old.
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one → convict → whom
Ewert spent 40 years in federal prison and was granted day parole in 2025.
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Ewert → spend → 2025
News of his studies spread in early October and he has since been barred from campus.
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he → spread → campus
Former prosecutor and retired judge, Rick Miller, told Global News that Ewart is “as bad as they come.”
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they → tell → News
“This guy was the most brutal and evil that I dealt with,” he said.
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he → deal → that
Miller said he still remembers prosecuting Ewart 40 years ago for murder and attempted murder.
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he → say → murder
In 1984, Ewert choked a 19-year-old woman unconscious, sexually assaulted her and then dumped her in the Fraser River, where she was later found dead.
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she → choke → River
Six weeks later, Miller said Ewert strangled a 15-year-old girl unconscious in his adoptive parents’ Surrey basement, drove her to a drainage ditch, where he left her to die after her head struck the pavement when he dragged her out.
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he → say → her
She survived, but was paralyzed for life with severe brain damage.
Ewert was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder.
“Ewert had raised a defence in both cases of insanity,” Miller said.
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Miller → survive → insanity
“The psychiatrist that the Crown called said that wasn’t true, that he was in fact a psychopathic killer.”
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he → call → fact
Ewert appealed and the first-degree murder verdict was overturned and a new trial was ordered.
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trial → appeal → ?
Ewert later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and Miller said the judge in that case thought Ewert would be a danger his entire life so he recommended that parole never authorize his release from prison.
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parole → plead → prison
However, after serving 40 years, Ewert was granted day parole last year.
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Ewert → serve → parole
Opinions on Ewert studying at McGill has left students divided.
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Ewert → study → students
Student Leah Kropf told Global News, “It’s scary and it’s kind of unbelievable,” that many students apply and aren’t accepted, but Ewert was.
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Ewert → tell → News
“I believe in second chances.
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I → believe → chances
I believe in rehabilitation,” McGill student Ines Keita said.
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Keita → believe → rehabilitation
“People make mistakes and I also feel like if he got liberated, he has the right to rehab, do something with his life and get an education.
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he → make → education
But student Isabelle Munoz said she isn’t comfortable with the idea.
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she → say → idea
“I would not feel safe being in class with him.
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I → feel → him
I would not feel safe being on campus around him,” she said.
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she → feel → him
McGill told Global News that privacy laws prevented it from discussing individual student cases, but said the safety and security of its students is paramount.
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safety → tell → students
The university also said it would actively review its admissions processes to ensure a similar situation does not happen again.
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situation → say → processes
In a letter sent to students over the weekend, the McGill administration said it remained committed to second chances and the power of education to transform lives.
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it → send → lives
It also said student safety comes first and the matter was being reviewed by the university.
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matter → say → university
“I always took solace from belief and understanding that he would remain in custody until he died, but then he didn’t,” Miller said.
-with files from Alessia Simona Maratta and Amanda Jelowicki
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files → take → Maratta
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