Manitoba·NewA man who’s been in prison since he admitted killing two women in Winnipeg has been granted statutory release.Lamb must live at designated facility for at least 6 months: parole boardArturo Chang · CBC News · Posted: Nov 12, 2025 2:03 PM EST | Last Updated: 27 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Shawn Lamb, in a file photo. Lamb pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in the 2012 slayings of Carolyn Sinclair and Lorna Blacksmith. (CBC)A man who’s been in prison since 2013 after admitting he killed two women in Winnipeg has been given statutory release.Shawn Lamb, 66, will have to spend at least half a year at a designated facility as part of conditions imposed by the Parole Board of Canada in a Nov. 6 decision.Lamb pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in the 2012 slayings of Carolyn Sinclair and Lorna Blacksmith.He had originally been charged with three counts of second-degree murder, including for the alleged killing of Tanya Nepinak, 31, but the Crown stayed that charge because of a lack of evidence.In 2013, Justice Rick Saull sentenced Lamb to 20 years in prison minus time already served — the equivalent of a life sentence — following a joint recommendation from the defence and prosecution. Lamb would have first been eligible for parole in 2022.By law, offenders who have served two-thirds of a fixed length sentence must be released from prison under supervision, though it can be denied in some circumstances. The parole board can impose special conditions on the release if necessary. In its decision, the board rejected a release plan for Lamb to reside in transition housing, saying he would present an “undue risk to society.”The decision reviewed some of his criminal history before the killings, including several assault charges and incidents of sexual assault and robbery.”Given your assessed levels of risk and serious nature of offences, a period of residency is required as you transition back into the community,” it said.”Once you have demonstrated stability, the need for residency can be re-examined.”‘Above-average risk’ for sexual reoffencesThe board ruled Lamb must live in a community-based residential or psychiatric facility for at least six months, with a future review on whether to renew that condition.The decision said assessments found “high imminent” risk of violence towards a partner and a “low imminent risk” of violence towards others.The board said a psychological assessment found an “above-average risk” to reoffend sexually, though Lamb’s overall risk was only in the moderate range.As part of the conditions, he will have to report all sexual and nonsexual relationships and friendships to a parole supervisor, as well as any attempts to initiate them and any changes to their status.He was also barred from consuming drugs and alcohol, and from having contact with any person who might be involved in criminal activity.The decision reviewed some of his criminal history before the killings, including several assault charges and incidents of sexual assault and robbery. It says the man also had a “problematic” history of breaching release conditions.Lamb met Sinclair at a drug house and killed her after they went to his apartment to smoke crack cocaine, striking her head with an axe handle multiple times He met Blacksmith about two weeks later while purchasing drugs. He invited her to his apartment, where he strangled the 18-year-old with a TV cord after an argument.Tanya Nepinak, was last seen on Sept. 13, 2011. A search for her remains ended six days after it began when police found no evidence. In August, the NDP government announced it would restart the search at the Brady Road landfill nearly 14 years after the woman’s disappearance.Lamb has denied involvement in Nepinak’s killing.With files from Joanne Levasseur
Shawn Lamb gets statutory release after prison term for killing 2 women in 2012
