By Phil Couvrette

MONTREAL (AP) — The parents of two teenagers killed by Karla Homolka and her ex-husband will be allowed to address the court when Canada's most notorious ex-inmate appeals the conditions of her release as unconstitutional, a judge ruled Thursday.

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Federal prosecutors and Homolka's lawyers were in the Quebec Superior Court trying to block the families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy from speaking at the hearing set for Oct. 12, during which Homolka will contest conditions imposed on her release from prison in July.

Homolka was convicted of manslaughter in 1993 and given the relatively light sentence of 12 years for her role in the rapes and murders French and Mahaffy in the early 1990s.

In return, she agreed to testify against ex-husband Paul Bernardo, a Toronto bookkeeper serving a life term in an Ontario prison for two counts of first-degree murder.

In sentencing Homolka, prosecutors also considered her role in the 1990 death of her 15-year-old sister, Tammy, who died on Christmas Eve after Homolka held a drug-soaked cloth over her face while Bernardo raped her.

Upon her release in July, a Superior Court judge in Montreal ruled that Homolka must keep police apprised of her whereabouts at all times, may not contact her ex-husband or the families of their victims, and must continue psychological therapy. She also cannot have any job that requires working with children younger than 16.

Homolka and her lawyers will argue that the conditions and limitations violate the original plea bargain made before she was sentenced for manslaughter in 1993.

Judge James Brunton ruled on Thursday that the families can argue on "a very narrow basis," by trying to block Homolka's argument that the conditions break her constitutional rights.

However, they will not be allowed to intervene on whether the restrictions are too harsh or whether Homolka is dangerous.

Tim Danson, the attorney representing the French and Mahaffy families, argued that said his clients had an "overriding interest" in taking part in the hearing.

"They are terrified with the prospect of coming face to face with Ms. Teale," Danson said, referring to the name Homolka now uses. "No one has been more directly affected by the actions of Ms. Teale and Bernardo."

After the judge's ruling, Danson said, "All the families could ask for is to be heard and have a fair hearing, and there is no question that we have that."