Convicted murderer Mason Jenkins, centre, is escorted to a funeral home in Chatham, Ont., Saturday February 16, 2013. VICKI GOUGH/QMI AGENCY

CHATHAM, Ont. -- A convicted killer received a temporary get-out-of-jail card to attend a private family gathering during his grandmother's funeral Saturday.

Mason Jenkins arrived in handcuffs and shackles and was escorted by two armed guards into a funeral home early Saturday morning.

He was spotted about 40 minutes later smoking a cigarette just outside a rear door.

During his hour-long visit to the funeral home, some relatives remained outdoors until he was whisked away in a Correctional Service Canada van to be returned to an undisclosed penitentiary.

Jenkins is serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of his sister in 1998.

Some family members who wished to remain anonymous told QMI Agency they were disgusted to learn Jenkins had been granted the temporary release.