The parents of a Manitoba woman who was killed in a fatal crash are calling for changes to the justice system after the man accused in her case left a treatment centre and breached conditions of his release order. Kellie Verwey, 28, died in a three-vehicle crash on Jan. 15, 2025. James Hilton, 25, has been charged with multiple offences in relation to the incident, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. “We went through the bail hearing to put our faith in the justice system—that this would be the best outcome as for Mr. Hilton to be able to attend the treatment centre and possibly do better,” said Meechelle Best, Kellie’s mother, at a news conference on Tuesday. “Monday, we got information that he had been released to the secure facility … Shortly thereafter, we found out that he was posting on social media about being happy about being out of jail,” she said. Kellie’s parents spoke alongside Progressive Conservative (PC) MLAs at the Manitoba Legislative Building, who echoed their calls for judicial changes. According to Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza, Hilton was gone “within hours” after being released to the treatment centre. A copy of Hilton’s release order obtained by CTV News shows that he was only permitted to be released to a treatment centre and to live at that location. Hilton was also directed to immediately surrender himself to police if he left the treatment program for any reason, according to the release order. Best said she “absolutely lost (her) knees” when she heard Hilton had left the treatment centre and authorities did not know his whereabouts. “This justice system needs change … We don’t know where he is. The police don’t know where he is,” she said. RCMP said in a news release that an arrest warrant was issued for Hilton Tuesday afternoon. About an hour later, Mounties provided an update that Hilton was arrested without incident and is in custody in Winnipeg. “The Justice Minister said this must be nonpartisan and pledged swift and decisive action,” Bereza said. “This government has done nothing but say this is a federal issue.” PC leader Obby Khan said this is not a case where the province can point the finger at Ottawa. “The administration of justice is a provincial responsibility. It was a provincial court judge who released this person to an unsecured facility, which led to his escape,” Khan said. Kellie’s parents later met with Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe after the news conference. “Their frustration is the same kind of frustration that we’ve had, that the premier expressed along with the first ministers across the country,” Wiebe told CTV News after the meeting. Still, Best said noticeable change is needed in the justice system. “Maybe there’s a million things going on, but it’s not making a difference,” she said. “We Manitobans—we can’t see it.” None of the charges have been tested in court.
