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Nelson murderitrialCRANBROOK, B.C. (CP) — Dale Merle Nelson, 31, of West Creston, B.C., declined Monday to enter pleas on two charges of non-capital murder laid after three adults and five children were slain in the West Creston area of the Kootenays Sept. 5, 1970.Not guilty pleas were entered by the court for Nelson, on trial on two counts in the deaths of Tracy Wasyk, 7, and Catherine St. Amand, 8.Nelson, arrested after one of B.C.’s largest manhunts, appeared calm as be entered the courtroom Monday morning but was shaking slightly as he stood to hear the charges against him read.Mr. Justice J. F. Aikins of Vancouver and the jury of eight men and four women heard two witnesses Monday.Fred Rykmah, a provincial government employee, described a map of the West Cres-tcn area while RCMP Cpl. Allan Marcctte of the identification branch in this Bast Kootenay city pointed out locations of homes of the victims and the accused.Photographs of the Wasyk residence and a knife found on a bed were entered as exhibits.In his opening address, Crown counsel T. G. Bowen-Colthurst of Victoria outlined evidence ex*er waypeeted to be presented by about 30 Crown witnesses. .It is alleged Nelson went to the Wasyk home in the early morning and lolled Mrs. Alex Wasyk, about 30, and Tracy, Two other daughters, Debbie, 12, and Charlene, 8, escaped.Police came to the house, Mr. Bowen-Colthurst said, and found the two bodies. They then went to a nearby home and when they returned Tracy's body was gone.A police search started andled to the Raymond Phipps residence about two miles away, where Mr. Phipps, 42, Isabelle St. Amand, 26, Brian St. Amand, 7, Paul St. Amand, 10, and Kenneth Phipps, l, were found dead.Catherine St Amand was missing.Mr. Bowen-Colthurst said the search continued and Nelson’s car was found that afternoon on a forestry road several miles away.The dismembered and mutilated body of Tracy Wasyk was found near the car.The court was told RCMP captured Nelson about 5 p.m. Sept. 6 near his home and about an hour later the body of Catherine St. Amand was located in the area where the car and the Wasyk girl’s body had been found.Catherine had a fractured skull and had been stabbed inthe back.Associate Crown counsel In the case is Leo Ntmsick of Cranbrook, while counsel for the defence is M. E. Moran of Cas-tlegar, B.C.Discovery of the killings resulted in a weekend of terror for residents of the Creston Valley and led to a search involving more thon 40 RCMP officers, a Canadian Forces helicopter and three tracker dogs.It was a police dog that actually subdued Nelson after he was spotted lying under a tree near his home. When he did not comply with an order to stand up and throw away his rifle, police dog Count was sent after Nelson.Eyewitnesses said Nelson rose to meet Count, was knocked down by the dog and quickly handcuffed by police. His loaded rifle was in the crook of a tree near him and police said about a dozen rounds of ammunition were found at the spot.The trial continues.
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Tue, Mar 23, 1971
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Reinhart B.
USA 12 Jan 2017
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