Shrubsall deportation decision was 'borderline negligence': lead investigator

The detective who led the investigation that helped put convicted killer William Shrubsallbehind bars for violent sexual assaults against women in Halifax is criticizing the decision to deport him to the U.S.

"He is a predator when it comes to women. And the parole board doing this, it's disgusting and it's borderline negligence as far as I'm concerned," Tom Martin told CBC News.

Now thathe's back in the U.S., Shrubsall, 47,could be eligible for parole in less than five years.

He was declaredadangerous offender in 2001, and if he hadnot been released fromprison in Canada, he mighthave stayed behind barsfor the rest of his life.

Martin says he spoke to three of the four women inNova Scotia who survived Shrubsall's violent attacks and said they're confused and angry. He said the decisionto release him is not fair and "just not right."

"What those women went through with him and then what they went through with the court process and then the parole board who answers to apparently nobody just let him go."

While he was in prison, Shrubsall changed his name to Ethan Simon Templar MacLeod. Heis studying seminary courses.

Martin said he thinks Shrubsall is "just saying what he thinks people want to hear."

"That's how this guy operates. He is very manipulative," Martin said.

Shrubsallcommitted his first violent crimein his teens. Hewas convicted of manslaughter for beating his own mother to death.

He ended up in Canada after he faked his own deathwhilehe was on trial for sexual assault in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Shrubsall was convicted in absentia and a seven-year prison sentence awaits him upon his return.

OnTuesday, the district attorney for Niagara County told The Canadian Press she "can't think of anyone better to confine for the rest of his life."

The Parole Board of Canada told CBC News this week it cannot discuss specifics ofShrubsall'scase a commentthat Martin took exception to.

"They're a public board. This has gone through court.Why can't they discuss it? Why is it closed? Why are they not releasing the minutes or the recordings of the actual hearing itself?" Martin said.

"Why would they do that? That, in and of itself, a public entity, is very concerning to me."