It is impossible to reach the conclusion that Cyril Belshaw killed his wife ... One day the murderer will be known and you will be relieved and proud to have acquitted Cyril Belshaw." ---Eric Stoudmann, defence lawyer for Cyril Belshaw, in his summation at trial.
Back in the late 1970s Beryl Young suggested to her friend, Victoria writer Ellen Godfrey, that she write a book about the sensational murder trial of celebrated UBC Anthropology professor, Cyril Belshaw. The result was By Reason of Doubt: The Belshaw Case (Vancouver: Clarke, Irwin, 1981). I have just finished this book, and can heartily recommend it as an interesting treatment of how a mountain of apparently inculpatory evidence-- the supposed disappearance of a wife in Paris (though nobody was found who could definitively swear that they saw her there) , the husband leaving for Vancouver without searching for his wife in Switzerland, a deceased wife's mangled corpse turning up within driving distance of the husband's Swiss residence, and the deliberate alteration of her dental records by the husband -- can, through resolute insistence by the defendant concerning his own innocence, support from the accused's friends and relatives, re-consideration of facts through inter-cultural and Swiss legal lenses, and one or two arguably exculpatory facts -- lead to an acquittal. Not the pure "not-guilty" verdict, however--which is provided for in Swiss law, though not in our own--but by reason of doubt.
Thirty years later, we can ask whether advances in forensics, such as DNA analysis, would have led to a different conclusion. We can also ask whether, even by the standards of the day, a less well-heeled suspect would have escaped conviction under the same circumstances. And it is always interesting to ask whether the Swiss legal system, which initially looked stacked against the accused, ultimately worked in his favour.
But most of all, it is interesting to ask, after thirty years of this cold case, and advances in DNA testing, whether we can ultimately answer the question once and for all: Who Killed Betty Belshaw?
10 comments:
having known all the principals in this case, I never had much doubt about who done it. But. of course if there were a way of getting DNA evidence at this late date, that would be great.
former rcmp officer involved in the case. their is no doubt in my mind who committed this murder unfortunately the judicial system worked in his favour
I was a research assistant for ubc in 2002. As an anthropologist, I happily worked for cyril and knew about his wife's murder. And quickly reached the same conclusion as the two other commentators having entered the situation with a completely open mind and naieve perspective. Which is why I've been searching today...I'm still disturbed about it.
Interesting to get comments from three people with some intimate knowledge of the case and the principals. Worthy of a CBC mini-series, though it would be excruciating for the Belshaws. I wonder what kind of private conversations Cyril & Betty's children have, if any, about this case?
I think in evaluating the reliability of statements people make it is important to consider their character. Unfortunately Cyril Belshaw was a liar and a cheat. It's hard to fathom why he would have falsified the dental records, given that the body was found in Switzerland but that Betty had gone missing in Paris. What made him think this could have been her? Cyril is now 93 I think, so very soon he will be face to face with Betty. Won't that be an interesting conversation!
Last night I attended Othello at Bard on the Beach - a play I studied in Mrs. Belshaw's UBC English class in 1977. She was a passionate teacher who loved literature. She had a tradition of inviting her History of English literature class to her home at Christmas time to read a Shakespeare play. I just loved her! When at her lovely home, I asked to make a phone call as the evening was going on later than I thought and wanted to phone home to say I would be late. I was told where to find the phone (no cell phones then) and I entered a very dim room. Sitting in the corner of this fairly large room was Mr. Belshaw. He didn't say a word and I was quite disturbed by his presence - just so odd to be sitting alone in a dark room. I remember it - kind of the shock of it - almost 40 years later. I was very upset with the news of Mrs. Belshaw's death and immediately came to my own conclusion as to who murdered her - even before the arrest of Mr. Belshaw. Mrs. Belshaw would have loved Bard on the Beach productions. I wish I could tell her how her enthusiasm for English literature affects me to this day.
Laura--thank you for insightful and poignant comment. Why would he do it? Sexual and financial freedom, or just plain selfishness is the 'rational' explanation. But I think he just dwelled on it a lot and wanted to do it. Very likely he was thinking about it the very moment you entered that room.
It's interesting for me that this case still strikes a discord with those who were personally connected to either Betty or Cyril in some way at the time.
My fascination arose as a result of my family history research - Betty was my father's cousin. I have read the book on the case at least twice now and concluded that Cyril had no reason to behave in the way he did, unless he was guilty.
I'm not sure that anyone ever "gets away" with something like this - I'd like to think he still wakes up some nights thinking about that day. You'd have to be a pretty sad individual not to.
I do feel sad for his children though - even if they believe he is innocent it must be hard suspecting that your own family believe otherwise. That's a weight they don't deserve, but again highlights the miserable selfishness of the man.
My thanks to those who still express an affection for Betty, even after all these years.
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