Rat this coward out — now

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/09/2009 (6033 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ELEANOR Hands embraces the memories of her daughter as a little girl, a singer, skat­er and even a perfectionist. Far too often, though, those images are blurred by the burn­ing thoughts of her Nicolle as a grown woman vainly clinging to life after being stabbed in the kitchen of her Mountain Avenue home while her children, three little dolls, slept in their rooms. Nicol­le had a friend over, too, asleep on the couch.

Nicolle was attacked six years ago this coming Fri­day and each fall Eleanor and I are in contact, sadly acknowledging that the homicide remains open.

Eleanor also speaks with Jim Thiessen, the detective that had been in charge of Nicolle’s case, who in retirement continues to rack his brain to figure out what’s been missed.

When Nicolle took her last breath, the science of DNA was good — mind-boggling, actually. Today, the technology is 10 times better and the RCMP are working to make it better yet. The killer should be scared to death that his long­term fate may hang on a hair or a flake of skin that has already been collected and stored in the boxes of evidence that the police have and will subject to further examination.

The killer is a coward, likely a drunk, a junkie or both, who now and then will be able to block out, even excuse, his killing. At the same time, though, like most people who commit violent and serious crimes, he will have a need to share his dark secret. That need will present as a confession — if it hasn’t already — likely in an atmosphere of intoxication to someone that his drunkenness says can be trusted. Of course the loyalties of such confidantes are precarious at best. In those circles, getting spurned is a way of life and ratting out is the great equalizer.

It’s just a matter of time, and deep down the killer knows that.

The case is never closed. There isn’t a statute of limitation.

The truth is that Nicolle’s case will fall in with those murder files being re-examined by a joint operation made up of local police, the RCMP and crime analysts. Investigators will look for that dangling thread, that witness who needs to be seen just one more time, or that flake of skin in the evidence boxes that, coupled with the latest science, will point to the killer and lead to the loud knock that he fears. The one that tells him the hounds are at the door and the game is over. Eleanor Hands lives out-of-province and was buoyed by the national headlines announcing the formation of Manitoba’s new policing unit that will review cases of murdered women. She offered her thoughts and hopes to me: "Every October since 2003, I have appealed to whoever knows who viciously murdered my daughter Nicolle to phone Crime Stoppers and give them the information they need to solve this murder and give Nicolle’s children and my­self some peace and closure. So far, this has not happened.

"On Aug. 26, 2009, the news channels and newspapers were full of news that Winnipeg has formed a task force to deal with all cases of murdered and missing native women. My knees went weak. At last!

"I know there is a person in Winnipeg that knows the murderer. Can you not find it in your heart to phone Crime Stoppers and leave this person’s name? It would give me such peace to gather Nicolle’s children around, hug them and tell them this murderer is in jail. Please give an old lady some peace, do the right thing and get this person off the streets of Winnipeg. You will feel a sense of relief after you make the phone call."

Nicolle’s three perfect children, two boys and a girl, need to know that the person that came into their home and killed their mom while they slept just a few feet away has been caught. They need to know it now and they will need to know it as they continue to grow and mature.

Nicolle’s killer needs to be arrested and held to full account.

If you know anything about Nicolle’s case, call the homicide detectives at (204) 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-TIPS. You can even email relevant information. Just go to winnipeg. ca/police and follow the Crime Stoppers link.

It’s the right thing to do.

Robert Marshall is a security consultant and a former Winnipeg police detective.

rm112800@hotmail.com