MISSION, B.C. - A teary-eyed Warren Glowatski hugged the mother of his murder victim Reena Virk on Thursday, just minutes after he was granted day parole.
Glowatski tucked his head in the crook of Suman Virk's neck as he wrapped his arms around her, then shook Manjit Virk's hand.
In November 1997 the beaten body of 14-year-old Reena was found floating in the Gorge Waterway near Victoria.
Glowatski took part in a swarming with a group of teens, then he and Kelly Ellard later followed the girl, beat her again and then drowned her.
Virk's parents attending Thursday's hearing in support of Glowatski after watching him change in the last decade.
"He was an angry, scared little kid, who was trying to prove something in a negative way,'' Suman Virk told the media after the hearing.
"Today I think we see a young man who has taken responsibility for his actions and is trying to amend the wrong that he did.''
Glowatski told a three-member parole board hearing he's no longer the same 16-year-old boy who walked into prison.
"My thoughts back then were about being powerful, I call it bravado, or trying to be this gangster.''
"I was screaming out for attention in all the wrong places and I got it.''
Glowatski wept when he talked of his prison meetings with Virk's parents.
"The topic of marriage came up. I realized just what I had taken away from Suman and Manjit.
"They reached out and offered me their hand and their care,'' he said, tears streaming down his face.
One parole board member asked Glowatski if he ever felt the pull of going back to a gang.
"No, I don't have an inkling to go there. I want to be responsible,'' he replied.
His parole officer gave a glowing report about Glowatski's time in prison, saying he had grown up and matured.
Glowatski has taken all the recommended rehabilitation courses, works with an alternative-to-violence group and speaks as a mentor for youth at risk.
He's embraced his native heritage and the hearing was elder assisted.
An aboriginal elder attended and started the hearing with what's called a smudge, burning sweet grass with the smoke fanned over each of the 10 hearing participants.
His plan is to take a welding course and a local Metis association has agreed to help pay for the course.
Manjit Virk gave Glowatski some advice during the hearing, saying freedom and responsibility go side by side.
"Everyone will be watching you. It's uncomfortable,'' he said.
"The challenge will be when you're alone. My advice is watch the people you associate with.''
Ellard, also convicted of second-degree murder in Reena's death, is seeking a fourth trial.
Her first conviction was overturned on appeal, the second ended in a hung jury and she was convicted in the third trial and given a life sentence with no parole eligibility for seven years.
When a board member asked Glowatski why it was that Ellard invited him to attend the second beating of Virk, he shrugged.
"We fed off each other. I think that's why.''
Glowatski didn't take part in the final drowning of the girl, but said he did watch Ellard hold Virk's head under the water.
"I feel ashamed,'' he said of his actions. "I wish I could just crawl under a rock.''
It took less that 25 minutes for the board to make its decision.
"There's a lot of evidence you've made significant and lasting change,'' said parole board member Patrick Storey.
"Your risk will not be undue.''
Glowatski had wanted to be on day parole with a family in Mission for six months before moving to a Vancouver halfway house.
However, the board ruled that he would go directly to a yet to be determined halfway house.
Glowatski thanked the Virks for attending the hearing.
"I hope that one day I will be able to be as caring, selfless. I don't take your support for granted.''
