Convicted murderer and former Saskatchewan cabinet minister Colin Thatcher has been denied an unescorted temporary absence from prison.

Thatcher, 66, had asked for the temporary absence so he could spend 72 hours over Christmas with his three children, their spouses and his four grandchildren.

But the parole board denied the request at a hearing at Ferndale Institution east of Vancouver, where Thatcher is imprisoned.

Thatcher was handed a minimum 25-year prison term for the 1983 murder of his former wife, JoAnn Wilson. Wilson was found beaten and shot to death on the garage floor of her Regina home following the couple's bitter breakup.

Thatcher has always denied killing her.

At Wednesday's hearing, Thatcher was asked about his wife and he denied ever abusing her. But a board member reminded Thatcher that his ex-wife had told people she was afraid of him, that he had smashed plates and glasses, kicked her, dragged her out of bed and once smashed in a bathroom door.

Thatcher said he had no recollection of dragging her out of bed and said he broke the bathroom door down because his daughter had locked herself inside.

However, he conceded: "I now realize I emotionally and physically abused her."

When asked what his feelings towards women was in general, Thatcher replied: "I got along well with women long before it was fashionable to do so.''

Thatcher has served nearly 20 years of his life sentence, which calls for no parole eligibility until he has served a minimum of 25 years. He will have to wait until May 7, 2009 for release.

However, he has the right to apply for early parole every two years under the so-called "faint-hope" clause, which allows inmates to have their sentenced reviewed after 15 years, to promote rehabilitation.

His first two requests, in 2000 and 2002, were both denied. Nine months ago, he applied again and was denied a third time.

If he is ever granted parole, Thatcher has said he plans to live on the family farm in Moose Jaw.