The Struggle for Justice for Battered Women: Still a Colossal Work in Progress, as Exemplified by Helen Naslund’s Case
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University of Ottawa
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Independent Senator in the Senate of Canada Canada
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Canada
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Women Who Choose to Live Canada
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King’s Counsel, Alberta Canada
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The Globe and Mail Canada
Abstract
This article recounts the campaign for justice for Helen Naslund, a Canadian woman who lived in rural Alberta when she killed her abusive husband Miles in 2011 as he slept. Rather than go to trial on self-defence, on the advice of counsel Helen pled guilty to manslaughter and then, consequent to a joint submission on sentencing made with the Crown, she was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2020, the longest sentence on record for such a woman in Canada. The contributors to Helen’s journey, including Helen herself, a Senator, an academic, an activist, a lawyer and a journalist, all describe the roles they played in supporting Helen’s successful appeal against sentence in 2022 and her release from prison in 2023.
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Author Biographies
Elizabeth Sheehy, LL.M., LL.D. (Hons), F.R.S.C., O. Ont., is Professor Emerita at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. Her research is focused on legal responses to men’s violence against women, which includes Sexual Assault in Canada: Law, Legal Practice and Women’s Activism and her book, Defending Battered Women on Trial: Lessons from the Transcripts.
Kim Pate was appointed to the Senate of Canada on November 10, 2016. First and foremost, the mother of Michael and Madison, she is also a nationally renowned advocate who has spent the last 45+ years working in and around the legal and penal systems of Canada, with and on behalf of some of the most marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized — particularly imprisoned youth, men and women.
CanadaHelen Naslund is a farmer, a mother of three sons, and an animal lover. She is a hard worker who is devoted to her work and community of support. After running a family farm for many years, she looks forward to continuing to work while also living in the country with her new horse, Candy. She enjoys riding and barrel racing when she isn't working .
Matthew Behrens is a writer and community advocate who coordinates Women Who Choose to Live.
Mona Duckett, KC, has practiced criminal defence and related administrative work since 1984. She is a former president of the Alberta Law Society and the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association and is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. She teaches Advocacy at the University of Alberta and has co-authored two criminal law texts.
Jana G. Pruden is an award-winning reporter at The Globe and Mail based in Edmonton, Alberta. She is the co-creator of the podcast In Her Defence.