Indeed! A state should be given only to nations (not simply to families or groups) and only at certain conditions (see Michael Walzer for the underpinnings).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Walzer
Any murderer at any time may have an epiphany*.
*A sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
The murderer in your story escapes not simply by walking away but also by risking his parole eligibility, as well as risking losing all the privileges he enjoyed at Frontenac.