A conman dubbed the “Rolex Killer,” who was at one time the most wanted man in Canada, has been denied day parole from a Greater Victoria prison.
They say they’re concerned he could dupe fellow church members and did not want to be named out of fear for their safety. They said he continued to deny and minimize his crimes while on temporary day parole last year, despite having a chance to address his problems in counselling. In the U.K., Walker befriended a man named Ronald Platt and assumed his identity when Platt moved to Canada. When Platt returned to the U.K. in 1996, Walker took him on a boat trip to kill him, the decision says. He bought an anchor, attached it to Platt’s body and threw him overboard, it says.Platt was eventually identified by the Rolex he was wearing at the time of his death, resulting in Walker’s nickname the “Rolex Killer.
Walker continues to deny committing fraud and claims he was engaged in legitimate business ventures that didn’t work out, the parole decision says. Walker claims that Platt allowed him to take his identity and that Platt attacked him and fell overboard in a struggle. Victims who lost their life savings told the parole board that they had lost homes and relationships and suffered mental-health problems as a result of Walker’s actions, and believe his “charismatic personality” will allow him to continue committing crimes if he is released. Several victims noted that he defrauded members of his church, the decision says.