Prince Albert, SK - A Calgary child killer and rapist was granted day parole this afternoon, as his victim's family openly wept at the decision.

After a three-hour hearing before the National Parole Board this morning, Harold David Smeltzer was granted day parole for six months. He will serve the time at a halfway house in Regina.

In 1981, Smeltzer was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of five-year-old Kimberley Thompson and rapes of women in southwest Calgary.
Evelyn Thompson hasn't faced her daughter's killer since his trial 28 years ago, but she attended Wednesday's hearing and openly wept during the emotion-packed hearing.

"I want him to stay in prison, I don't want him to see the light of day, she doesn't get a second chance, why should he?" Thompson said after the hearing. "Life is life. Not 10 years, not 20, not 25."

Thompson and six members of her family travelled to read victim impact statements - the family's first - at today's hearing.

Evelyn's son, Brad Thompson, said he was sickened by Smeltzer's lack of remorse.

"He barely even acknowledged his part in her death," he said. "He barely even referenced her. She's dead and he gets to walk."

Smeltzer was 24 when he snatched Kimmie on her way to kindergarten in Altadore on Jan. 24, 1980. He drowned her in his parents' bathtub and stuffed her naked body into a garbage can a few blocks from her home.

After a massive search, her frozen body was found the next day.

Thompson's 1980 murder shocked the city and stumped police for five months - Smeltzer eluded capture although was living just blocks away from his victim.
He was arrested after an 11-year-old rape victim recognized him walking on Elbow Drive.

In court, Smeltzer pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, acts of gross indecency, break and enter during an attempted rape and possession of a weapon.

Among his victims were a 17-year old high school girl, a 27-year-old librarian and a 27-year-old school custodian.

Smetlzer has also admitted terrorizing his Altadore neighbourhood between 1975 and 1980.

He has gone on record claiming responsibility for sexually assaulting 40 victims in a south Calgary neighbourhood during the mid- to late-1970s, according to National Parole Board documents obtained by the Herald.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 25 years.

He has been serving time at Riverbend Institution, a minimum-security prison in Prince Albert, Sask