TRUE CRIME: The final execution in Winnipeg that changed Canadian justice forever

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Did you know that the last execution in Winnipeg took place on June 17, 1952, when William O’Connor was hanged at the Vaughan Street Jail? O’Connor was convicted of the brutal murder of 26-year-old Eunice Distefano in 1951, a crime that shocked the city and captured national attention.

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Distefano, a young woman described by those who knew her as friendly and independent, had been walking home late one evening when she encountered O’Connor. Under the influence of alcohol, O’Connor attacked her in a fit of rage. Evidence presented at trial suggested that the attack was sudden and violent, with Distefano sustaining fatal injuries. Her body was discovered the next morning by a passerby in a secluded area, leading to a police investigation that quickly identified O’Connor as the prime suspect.

Witnesses came forward to place O’Connor near the scene of the crime on the night of the attack, and investigators uncovered physical evidence, including bloodstains, that tied him directly to the murder. His arrest followed swiftly, and the community closely followed the case as it unfolded in the courts. During the trial, prosecutors argued that the murder was intentional and premeditated, warranting the harshest penalty under the law. They presented a combination of forensic evidence and witness testimony to solidify their case. O’Connor’s defence centred on claims of mental instability and the effects of alcohol consumption, which they argued impaired his judgment and diminished his responsibility for the crime. A psychological evaluation was submitted, but the prosecution countered with expert testimony that O’Connor was fully aware of his actions and their consequences.

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After deliberating for several hours, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of guilty for first-degree murder. The court sentenced O’Connor to death by hanging, setting the date for June 17, 1952. Efforts to appeal the verdict and seek clemency were unsuccessful, with Manitoba’s lieutenant governor ultimately signing the execution order. The execution took place at the historic Vaughan Street Jail, which had served as a site for carrying out capital punishment since the late 19th century. On the morning of his execution, O’Connor was led to the gallows in the presence of officials, law enforcement representatives, and members of the press. The hanging proceeded without incident, marking the final use of capital punishment in Winnipeg.

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The case of William O’Connor became a focal point in ongoing debates about the death penalty, which was increasingly being questioned across Canada. Public opinion began to shift during the mid-20th century, with concerns about wrongful convictions, the morality of state-sanctioned executions, and the overall effectiveness of the death penalty in deterring crime. While executions continued elsewhere in Canada until 1962, the momentum to abolish capital punishment grew steadily, culminating in its removal for most crimes in 1976.

The Vaughan Street Jail, where O’Connor’s execution took place, is now a heritage site that draws visitors and historians intrigued by its dark past. Stories like O’Connor’s remain a significant part of Manitoba’s legal history, reflecting a time when justice was carried out in ways that are no longer part of Canadian society.

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