The man charged with the 1993 killing of Jennifer Cusworth could soon make Lake Country his home.
Neil George Snelson, 47, was ordered released from prison on one surety in the amount of $75,000, Tuesday morning.
If that amount is posted, a Kamloops judge ordered that Snelson move into his sister and brother-in-law’s Central Okanagan home, under strict conditions. Among the limitations he’s facing, are a curfew that will see him in house from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., as well as supervised excursions.
His interim lawyer Wade Jenson said that there’s a publication ban on evidence heard in the bail hearing, but noted that the next court date is June 16.
At that time, Snelson could have a new lawyer and may learn the court date for his upcoming manslaughter trial.
Snelson has never been released from prison since his 2009 arrest.
He remained in provincial custody throughout his 2011 trial, and went into a federal prison after his conviction that same year of manslaughter.
That conviction was overturned last December when the Court of Appeal found that the trial judge was wrong to allow into evidence a statement Snelson gave police.
Snelson has been out of the public sphere for a significant chunk of his initial sentence of 15 years, which may be why friends and family of the slain teen were so taken aback by the decision to grant bail.
Cusworth’s friend Jennifer Watson was present throughout Snelson’s last trial, and said the news he would be released made her sick to her stomach.
“Now he gets to walk the streets and live his life once more, enjoy the sunshine and feel the warmth on his face while our friend hasn’t been able to do that for over 20 years,” she said. “I shake my head and have cried today. (This) breaks my heart.”
Cusworth, 19 at the time of her death, was found dead in a ditch on Swamp Road following a house party.
Despite yearly pleas for evidence from her parents, the case sat cold for over 15 years.
