Helen Betty Osborne

Yesterday marks the 45th death anniversary of Helen Betty Osborne, a 19-year-old Canadian woman, who was savagely murdered by Dwayne Archie Johnston and three of his friends on the night of November 13, 1971, in The Pas, Manitoba. The four men abducted Osborne off the street. The vicious beating they gave her smashed her face beyond recognition. They stabbed her over 50 times. It was not until December 1987 that Dwayne Johnston was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was released after serving 10 years of that sentence. James Houghton was acquitted. Lee Colgan received immunity from prosecution in return for testifying against Houghton and Johnston. He was never punished. Norman Manger was never charged. I count myself among those who are still waiting for justice to be served.

© 2016 Alline Cormier