Osborne family receives official government apology

The province of Manitoba formally apologized to Helen Betty Osborne's family today. Osborne was the teenage student who was brutally murdered almost 30 years ago in The Pas. Her murder helped spark the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry.

In 1971, 18 year old Osborne was a student from Norway House living in The Pas. On a cold winter night, she was abducted off the street, sexually assaulted and stabbed 50 times with a screwdriver. She was left to die in the bush outside of The Pas.

It took 16 years to make arrests. Of the 4 men at the scene of the murder, only one, Dwayne Archie Johnston was convicted.

Today the Justice Minister formally apologized to Osborne's family saying his department did not do enough during Osborne's murder investigation. "On behalf of the government of Manitoba I wish to express my profound regret at the way the justice system as a whole responded to the death of Betty and to apologize on a clear lack of justice on her case," said Gord Mackintosh.

Despite the passage of time, Cecilia Osborne still has difficulty talking about her murdered sister. "She wanted to become a teacher," said Osborne as her eyes filled with tears.

The family takes some solace in the government's announcement of a 50 thousand dollar scholarship fund in honour of Helen. Aboriginal women who want to be teachers will be eligible. "We are happy that her dreams will help others walk the path," said Osborne.

The Osborne family has said in the past it might seek civil litigation in Helen's death, but today, her sister says the trust fund will help with her healing, "for me it's letting go and trying to move on."

A formal ceremony with an apology is set for The Pas this weekend. Osborne would have been 48 years old this Sunday.