亚洲天堂 Lake resident Albert Giesbrecht, who was in connection with the death of Raymond George Bishop last May, will be released on bail soon.

According to unconfirmed reports, he could be released as early as Thursday.

Giesbrecht appeared in Smithers Supreme Court last week for a judicial interim release hearing (bail hearing), which is where a judge decides whether to release the accused person from custody while they wait for trial.

Although the judge had indicated that a decision on his release would not be made until Dec. 11, the court decided last Friday that Giesbrecht could be released on a 鈥渞ecognizance of bail,鈥� which comes with the imposition of a financial penalty if the accused does not follow the conditions of release.

His sureties - Calvin and Debra Giesbrecht - signed an agreement Monday which makes them liable to pay $75,000 if Albert fails to attend court or breaches a condition of his bail order.

As part of the 22 conditions of his bail order, Albert is not allowed to go to the Southside. He also must not have any contact or go to any residence, school or workplace of 24 people, including some members of Bishop鈥檚 family.

He must be confined to his 亚洲天堂 Lake residence under house arrest, 24/7 commencing upon release. The only times he may be absent from his residence are in an ambulance for a medical emergency, or in the presence of one or both of his sureties to travel to a probation office or to attend scheduled court appearances.

In addition, he must surrender all travel documents, including any passport, and must not obtain any further travel documents. He must also not possess or use any device capable of accessing the Internet.

Jennifer Petersen, whose aunt is Albert鈥檚 ex-wife, said the 22 bail order conditions are 鈥渓oose,鈥� and that they make her feel unsafe.

鈥淭he property he is going to be on is five acres, which borders with forests. Also, anybody is able to go there鈥� someone could bring him a gun,鈥� she said.

Petersen said she was shocked when she learned that Albert would be released.

鈥淚 was shocked, completed floored and gutted by it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his response from the judge was so unexpected. We all thought this was a formality. No one thought he could get out and come back to the community.鈥�

Her Facebook post asking for 鈥渏ustice for Ray鈥� and urging residents to contact Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad and Mike Farnsworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, had been shared almost 200 times as of Monday morning.

Petersen added that the bail release of someone charged with first-degree murder is a broader issue that needs to be discussed.

鈥淭his shouldn鈥檛 be allowed,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he system needs change, this should never happen.鈥�

Sheralyn Bishop, Raymond鈥檚 daughter, said her family was also surprised by Albert鈥檚 release.

鈥淎s a family, we鈥檙e outraged,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e never saw this coming, and I think we鈥檙e all still in shock.鈥�

The 22 bail order conditions also didn鈥檛 make her feel safe.

鈥淭he conditions have minimal monitoring,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no real way to monitor him round the clock. People can come and go to his residence as they please.鈥�

鈥淏asically we feel very unsafe as a family,鈥� she added.

Sheralyn said her family will be pursuing an appeal process to ask for Albert to wait for trial in custody.

When asked about her father, Sheralyn said Raymond was a good neighbour and friend.

鈥淗e worked hard his whole life and he took care of the people he loved,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e loved his community and he died protecting it.鈥�

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