Shirley Bain, 63, Victoria Beach NS
Shirley Bain, age 63 was horrifically murdered by her husband on January 16, 1993.
Shirley was the mother of an adult son and daughter.
In Fall 1991, Shirley and her husband had marital difficulties and separated. Shirley went to live with a friend for six months and, eventually, moved to Halifax to live with her son.
In October 1992 Shirley’s husband was hospitalized for two weeks for depression, increased anxiety and sleeplessness. It was during this hospitalization that he persuaded both his wife and son to return to the family home to assist him in his recovery.
On January 13, 1993, shortly before noon, Shirley’s husband drove his car to the home of a minister of the local Pentecostal church, where the family occasionally attended services. He was in an agitated state and an appointment was made for him to see his doctor in two days.
Shirley and their son accompanied her husband to the appointment. It was arranged that Shirley’s husband would be hospitalized in approximately a week, under the care of a psychiatrist.
On January 16th, at 8:13 a.m. Shirley’s husband called 911 saying, “I want to report a killing.”
The RCMP arrived at the home, noting Shirley’s husband had a blood-splattered face when he opened the door to let them in.
A blood-stained hatchet was found on the kitchen floor adjacent to the bedroom. Blood was located on the bedroom walls, ceiling, floors and furniture.
An autopsy report disclosed that Shirley had suffered 18 major wounds from a hatchet attack, resulting in multiple lacerations and fractures about her head, neck, upper chest and arms.