Prison officials are asking the federal parole board to consider keeping a former Alberta doctor, convicted of manslaughter in the death of a colleague, in prison past his statutory release date.

A spokeswoman, who called the step "extraordinary," said Correctional Service Canada can ask the National Parole Board to hold such a review only when it believes an inmate is likely to commit another serious crime when released.

Abraham Cooper, who was a physician in the northwestern Alberta town of Fairview, was convicted of manslaughter in 2000 in the death of fellow doctor Doug Snider.

Abraham Cooper, who was a northern Alberta doctor, was convicted of manslaughter in 2000 for the death of a fellow physician.
Abraham Cooper, who was a northern Alberta doctor, was convicted of manslaughter in 2000 for the death of a fellow physician.

Snider, 59, disappeared after telling his wife he was going to a meeting at Cooper's clinic on May 5, 1999. His body has never been found, but police discovered his blood on Cooper's running shoes, in the trunk of his car and in his office.

During Cooper's trial, the defence tried to paint Snider as an alcoholic who faked his death to escape to a new life.

The body of Dr. Doug Snider, who disappeared after going to meet Cooper in 1999, has never been found.
The body of Dr. Doug Snider, who disappeared after going to meet Cooper in 1999, has never been found.

Cooper has served two-thirds of his sentence – seven years and four months – and will be eligible for statutory release on Sept. 1, 2005. Normally, he'd serve the rest of his sentence under supervision in the community.

Correctional Service Canada spokeswoman Cathy Stocki said privacy laws prevent her from revealing why officials want Cooper kept in custody.

But she said the federal agency can apply to the parole board to keep an inmate behind bars if it believes he will commit a serious crime if released.

"Detentions are extraordinary measures, intended to be applied with restraint and under strictly defined criteria, including concrete evidence to support the risk," she said.

"Evidence can include the offender's own behaviour, new information from outside sources and the findings of a psychological or a psychiatric assessment."

A parole board hearing is scheduled May 18.

Snider's disappearance in May, 1999 and Cooper's trial attracted media attention. Cooper had filed a $3.2-million lawsuit against Snider and three other doctors in Fairview, claiming they were conspiring to ruin him.

The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons dropped Cooper from its medical register in January 2004, effectively revoking his licence to practice.