Kelly Ellard, the young woman convicted in the 1997 murder of a Victoria teen, has waived her upcoming parole hearing, according to the National Parole Board.

In June, the Supreme Court of Canada rejected Ellard's appeal of the guilty verdict from her third trial for the murder of Reena Virk, putting an end to a legal case that spanned more than a decade.

The decision meant Ellard must serve her life sentence with no chance of parole for seven years, but she is now eligible for parole because of time served.

In a statement from the National Parole Board, spokesperson Jean-Paul Lorieau said Ellard "submitted a waiver which means she does not wish to be considered for parole at this time."

Her next parole hearing is set for February 2011.

Lorieau said there are many reasons offenders opt out of their hearings, including the completion of treatment programs, obtaining the support of caseworkers, or simply "not being ready."

A brutal murder

Ellard was 15 when Virk, then 14, was swarmed by eight teens, beaten and later drowned in a Victoria park on Nov. 14, 1997. She died not far from where her father often brought her to picnic and play.

Reena had been invited to "party" under the Craigflower Bridge that night when a dispute over another girl's boyfriend landed her in the middle of a kicking, punching attack.

After initially escaping the frenzy, the court heard that the she was again beaten so badly that her internal injuries were compared to being run over by a car. She likely would have died from head trauma.

The brutality of her death made shocking headlines around the world.

Ellard has repeatedly denied the murder.

Effects on the family

Virk's father, Manjit, now 52, said the trauma of the case has left him grappling with a stress disorder that makes it impossible to work full-time. But he visits schools to share his story and warn of what bullying can turn into.

"It's very powerful when we see the kids," he said. "They shed tears and they come give us a hug. Some of them say they have been bullied and some say they are bullies but they will change right away now.

"And I think it's affecting some lives."

This week, a Vancouver production company, No Equal Entertainment, said it is developing a feature film about Virk's murder.

Under the Bridge, a book detailing potential motives of the murder, was published in 2005.

With files from The Canadian Press