This whole event went down only a few blocks from my parents' house in Medicine Hat. I've followed the case closely, and have read the book "Runaway Devil" (its a quick read if anyone's interested in the case).
I don't care that she was 12 at the time, I'm appalled that she's already in the community and enjoying a free university education courtesy Alberta taxpayers. She is evil incarnate, and she is very lucky Canada's laws for young offenders did not contemplate such a vile crime as this.
Jeremy Steinke, who's name is not banned from publication, was the then 23 year old who killed her mother and father at her insistence. He was completely screwed up on drugs most of his life, was immature, and had an awful upbringing (his mother is no winner).
The girl is at least 1/2 at fault for these crimes. She was mature beyond her years and put Steinke up to killing her entire family in exchange for her offering to then live with him. I'm not excusing him at all, he will stay in prison for a long time, and he deserves worse than that.
I believe in rehabilitation for young offenders but I also believe in punishment, and this is a case where the punishment is really lacking. She is going to graduate with a government paid university degree at age 22 and be free as a bird. She lost her parents but I have no sympathy for her, she wanted them to die. She stabbed her 8 year old brother who cried "I'm too young to die!".
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