A Winnipeg man sentenced to 10 years in prison after he murdered his grandmother and defiled her body is asking a judge to ease his transition back into the community two years ahead of schedule.

The name of the 79-year-old victim cannot be published because it would identify the accused, who was 14 years old at the time of the killing.

The now 19-year-old man pleaded guilty in December 2005 to first-degree murder and received the maximum youth sentence of six years closed custody followed by four years open custody.

The man is seeking a court order converting his sentence to open custody two years ahead of schedule, a move that would make him eligible for extended, unescorted passes outside of jail.

The Crown is opposing the move, arguing the man still poses a significant danger to the community.

The victim's nude mutilated body was found stuffed in her bedroom closet by police on June 7, 2004, after her daughter found the Fort Garry home ransacked and the victim's grandson lying on her bed.

The accused smothered his grandmother with a pillow while she was asleep. Court heard yesterday he attempted to have sex with the corpse and defiled it with a knife. He also poisoned his grandmother's dog with anti-freeze.

Following his arrest, the boy told police he had fantasized about killing his grandmother for nine months and had promised to "get even" with everyone who had wronged him.

'Jokes at my expense'

"By the time I was four, everyone was making jokes at my expense," he said. "I was going to kill everyone who made fun of me, from oldest to youngest."

A recent report written by the man's therapist notes he had fantasies while in custody of raping women who had "humiliated" him. According to another report, he told a doctor in 2005 "it felt good to have violent fantasies."

The man's case manager, probation officer and therapist all told court he has shown significant progress in custody and should be allowed to start reintegrating himself into the community.

"I think (the accused) has worked very hard to meet the treatment needs in front of him," said his probation officer, Elana Sokolov. "I am by no means saying he is cured. (But) at this point I don't think there is much more he can learn from a secure setting."

Court heard the man's mother supports an early move to open custody, while his father, the victim's son, does not.

Yesterday's hearing was part on an annual review required under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Final submissions before Judge Patti Umpherville will be heard Jan. 12.

dean.pritchard@sunmedia.ca