A jury has found Robert Kociuk guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of Beverley Dyke nearly 26 years ago.
- Kociuk faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years under the the most serious charge in the Criminal Code.
- The family of Beverly Ann Dyke was in tears this evening when a jury convicted a man of killing the Winnipeg woman more than 25 years ago.
- Robert Kociuk, 68, was convicted of first-degree murder. He was arrested in 2005 after his DNA was matched to semen found on Dyke’s body. She was brutally raped and stabbed to death in 1984, her half-naked body discarded in a wooded area near the Winnipeg airport.
Kociuk, 68, was on trial accused of raping and stabbing Dyke to death on May 15, 1984 and leaving her half-naked body in a wooded area near what is now called Richardson International Airport.
Jurors began deliberating early Friday afternoon. A verdict was reached Friday night at around 8 pm.
Kociuk’s lawyers argued another man, Leonard White, was responsible for Dyke’s murder. White confessed to the killing in 1988.
Police dismissed the confession, believing White gleaned details of the killing from news reports. Court heard testimony suggesting White claimed responsibility for the killing so he could remain in prison with his gay lover.
White died in 1999.
When police in 2005 confronted Kociuk with DNA evidence proving he had sex with Dyke, Kociuk denied ever meeting her. He later claimed he had sex with Dyke but said it was consensual.
- Kociuk was initially interviewed as a potential suspect because he was seen by police in the area where the killing occurred on the day before Dyke’s body was found by a jogger. Kociuk had been under police surveillance for armed robbery and claimed he was meeting someone to buy a gun for his next heist.
- "Wrong guy. I do hold-ups. You guys know. I don’t do murder," he told investigators at the time.
- Kociuk continued to deny ever meeting Dyke even after he was arrested in 2005 and confronted with the new forensic evidence. Police told him the chances of a mistake were one in 680 billion.
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WINNIPEG — Beverley Ann Dyke was brutally raped and stabbed to death 26 years ago, her half-naked body discarded in a wooded area near the Winnipeg airport. Now a Winnipeg man has been convicted of a "cold case" killing which grieving family members feared would never be solved.
Robert Kociuk, 68, was found guilty Friday night of first-degree murder and given a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. Jurors reached their verdict after just a few hours of deliberations. Kociuk showed no visible reaction upon learning he will remain in prison until he’s at least 93, while members of the victim’s family broke down in tears and embraced each other.
"Our family has been waiting 26 years for a conclusion to this nightmare," an emotional Chris Dyke said outside the courthouse.
His mother, Beverley, was randomly targeted and attacked by Kociuk IN 1984 in a case which puzzled and frustrated investigators for years. Kociuk was finally linked to the crime after advancements in technology meant a sample of his DNA collected following a robbery conviction was matched to semen found on Dyke’s body.
"The DNA registry is a remarkable thing. It gives you new hope," said Dyke. "We hope that with this conviction we will finally be able to get some closure and put our mother to rest."
The case against Kociuk was complicated by the bizarre fact someone else previously admitted to Dyke’s slaying. Leonard White -- who was himself killed in 1999 -- made the admission during a 1988 interview at a penitentiary in Prince Albert, Sask.
Kociuk’s lawyers urged jurors this week to find Kociuk not guilty, saying White had a lengthy history of violence against women and even attempted suicide on the day Dyke’s body was found.
"Leonard White killed her," said lawyer Roberta Campbell in her closing statement this week. "He was a violent, dangerous, explosive psychopath."
Jurors clearly disagreed in reaching the quick verdict.
Police and justice officials have always discounted White’s claim, saying they believe he falsely confessed in an attempt to stay in prison with his gay lover. Police testified last week White had a history of making bogus confessions and only knew facts about Dyke’s case that had already been revealed publicly through the media. White claimed another man named "Ricky Morris" raped Dyke, but police said exhaustive police efforts could find no evidence such a person even existed.
Kociuk was initially interviewed as a potential suspect because he was seen by police in the area where the killing occurred on the day before Dyke’s body was found by a jogger. Kociuk, a career criminal, had been under police surveillance for armed robbery and claimed he was meeting someone to buy a gun for his next heist.
"Wrong guy. I do hold-ups. You guys know. I don’t do murder," he told investigators at the time. Kociuk continued to deny ever meeting Dyke even after he was arrested in 2005 and confronted with the new forensic evidence. Police told him the chances of a mistake were one in 680 billion.
"That’s impossible. It’s not mine. It can’t be mine," a Kociuk told homicide detectives in a videotaped interview played for the jury. "I think you guys got your wires crossed here. I don’t know this lady," he said.
- Kociuk’s lawyers conceded at trial the DNA found on Dyke was a match to their client through consensual sex but offered up no further explanation. Kociuk never took the witness stand to tell jurors about the major contradictions in his evidence.
- "The brutal slaying of our mother...has left a gaping hole in our family," Dyke’s daughter, Barb Botelho, said in her victim impact statement read aloud in court Friday night. She said Dyke never got to watch her three children get married or meet any of her eight grandchildren.
- "She was an extremely kind and sweet person. How could such a heinous crime occur?" she said. "We will all grieve the loss of her forever."
- Kociuk continued to deny ever meeting Dyke even after he was arrested in 2005 and confronted with the new forensic evidence. Police told him the chances of a mistake were one in 680 billion.
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KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image
A police mug shot of Robert KociukRobert Kociuk, 68, was found guilty Friday night of first-degree murder and given a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. Jurors reached their verdict after just a few hours of deliberations. Kociuk showed no visible reaction upon learning he will remain in prison until he’s at least 93, while members of the victim’s family broke down in tears and embraced each other.
His mother, Beverley, was randomly targeted and attacked by Kociuk IN 1984 in a case which puzzled and frustrated investigators for years. Kociuk was finally linked to the crime after advancements in technology meant a sample of his DNA collected following a robbery conviction was matched to semen found on Dyke’s body.
"The DNA registry is a remarkable thing. It gives you new hope," said Dyke. "We hope that with this conviction we will finally be able to get some closure and put our mother to rest."
The case against Kociuk was complicated by the bizarre fact someone else previously admitted to Dyke’s slaying. Leonard White -- who was himself killed in 1999 -- made the admission during a 1988 interview at a penitentiary in Prince Albert, Sask.
Kociuk’s lawyers urged jurors this week to find Kociuk not guilty, saying White had a lengthy history of violence against women and even attempted suicide on the day Dyke’s body was found.
"Leonard White killed her," said lawyer Roberta Campbell in her closing statement this week. "He was a violent, dangerous, explosive psychopath."
Jurors clearly disagreed in reaching the quick verdict.
Police and justice officials have always discounted White’s claim, saying they believe he falsely confessed in an attempt to stay in prison with his gay lover. Police testified last week White had a history of making bogus confessions and only knew facts about Dyke’s case that had already been revealed publicly through the media. White claimed another man named "Ricky Morris" raped Dyke, but police said exhaustive police efforts could find no evidence such a person even existed.
Kociuk was initially interviewed as a potential suspect because he was seen by police in the area where the killing occurred on the day before Dyke’s body was found by a jogger. Kociuk, a career criminal, had been under police surveillance for armed robbery and claimed he was meeting someone to buy a gun for his next heist.
"Wrong guy. I do hold-ups. You guys know. I don’t do murder," he told investigators at the time. Kociuk continued to deny ever meeting Dyke even after he was arrested in 2005 and confronted with the new forensic evidence. Police told him the chances of a mistake were one in 680 billion.
"That’s impossible. It’s not mine. It can’t be mine," a Kociuk told homicide detectives in a videotaped interview played for the jury. "I think you guys got your wires crossed here. I don’t know this lady," he said.
- Kociuk’s lawyers conceded at trial the DNA found on Dyke was a match to their client through consensual sex but offered up no further explanation. Kociuk never took the witness stand to tell jurors about the major contradictions in his evidence.
- "The brutal slaying of our mother...has left a gaping hole in our family," Dyke’s daughter, Barb Botelho, said in her victim impact statement read aloud in court Friday night. She said Dyke never got to watch her three children get married or meet any of her eight grandchildren.
- "She was an extremely kind and sweet person. How could such a heinous crime occur?" she said. "We will all grieve the loss of her forever."
- The case against Kociuk was complicated by the bizarre fact someone else previously admitted to Dyke’s slaying. Leonard White -- who was himself killed in 1999 -- made the admission during a 1988 interview at a penitentiary in Prince Albert, Sask.
- Kociuk’s lawyers urged jurors this week to find Kociuk not guilty, saying White had a lengthy history of violence against women and even attempted suicide on the day Dyke’s body was found.
- "Leonard White killed her," said lawyer Roberta Campbell in her closing statement this week. "He was a violent, dangerous, explosive psychopath."
- Jurors clearly disagreed in reaching the quick verdict.
- Jurors clearly disagreed in reaching the quick verdict.
- However, police and justice officials have always discounted White’s claim, saying they believe he falsely confessed in an attempt to stay in prison with his gay lover. Police testified last week White had a history of making bogus confessions and only knew facts about Dyke’s case that had already been revealed publicly through the media.
White claimed another man named "Ricky Morris" raped Dyke, but police said exhaustive police efforts could find no evidence such a person even existed.
- Beverley Dyke's family read victim impact statements aloud in court.
Robert Kociuk has been convicted of first-degree murder in the 1984 killing of 48-year-old Beverley Anne Dyke.
Jurors reached a verdict at approximately 8 p.m. Friday after nearly a full day of deliberations.
Kociuk, 68, will not be eligible for parole for 20 years — 25 years following his 2005 arrest — and will almost certainly die in prison.
Kociuk, a career bank robber, appeared stone-faced minutes after the verdict and had no words for the court.
Family members of the victim cried and embraced in court.
“It was the most nervous moment I ever had, waiting for that verdict,” Dyke’s son Chris said outside court.
In a prepared statement, Chris thanked police and justice officials for their dogged pursuit of his mother’s killer.
“Our family has been waiting 26 years for a conclusion to this nightmare,” Chris said. “Our mom would have been deeply touched by the diligence and dedication that so many people have shown in finding her killer and bringing justice to her memory.”
Kociuk’s conviction is a testament to the value of the national DNA bank. Had he not continued in a life of crime and been required to submit a DNA sample following a 2005 conviction for bank robbery, he might never have been charged with Dyke’s murder, let alone convicted.
Jurors were told Kociuk raped and stabbed Dyke to death on May 15, 1984 and left her half-naked body in a wooded area near what is now called Richardson International Airport.
Kociuk’s lawyers argued another man, Leonard White, was responsible for Dyke’s murder.
White confessed to the killing in 1988 but police dismissed the confession, believing White gleaned details of the slaying from news reports.
Court heard testimony suggesting White claimed responsibility for the killing so he could remain in prison with his male lover.
Jurors also heard evidence White attempted to commit suicide the same day Dyke’s body was discovered.
White was killed in 1999.
Jurors also heard testimony from a neighbour who claimed he saw Dyke outside her home a day after prosecutors said she was killed.
“Mr. Kociuk had sex with (Dyke) at one time, Leonard White killed her,” defence lawyer Roberta Campbell said in her closing address to jurors Wednesday. “He killed her and the police are wrong. The police make mistakes now and they made them in the ‘80s.”
Beverley Ann Dyke was brutally raped and stabbed to death 26 years ago, her half-naked body discarded in a wooded area near the Winnipeg airport. Now a Winnipeg man has been convicted of a "cold case" killing which grieving family members feared would never be solved.
Robert Kociuk, 68, was found guilty Friday night of first-degree murder and given a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. Jurors reached their verdict after just a few hours of deliberations. Kociuk showed no visible reaction upon learning he will remain in prison until he’s at least 93, while members of the victim’s family broke down in tears and embraced each other.
"Our family has been waiting 26 years for a conclusion to this nightmare," an emotional Chris Dyke said outside the courthouse.
His mother, Beverley, was randomly targeted and attacked by Kociuk IN 1984 in a case which puzzled and frustrated investigators for years. Kociuk was finally linked to the crime after advancements in technology meant a sample of his DNA collected following a robbery conviction was matched to semen found on Dyke’s body.
"The DNA registry is a remarkable thing. It gives you new hope," said Dyke. "We hope that with this conviction we will finally be able to get some closure and put our mother to rest."
- Beverley Dyke's family read victim impact statements aloud in court.
Robert Kociuk has been convicted of first-degree murder in the 1984 killing of 48-year-old Beverley Anne Dyke.
Jurors reached a verdict at approximately 8 p.m. Friday after nearly a full day of deliberations.
Kociuk, 68, will not be eligible for parole for 20 years — 25 years following his 2005 arrest — and will almost certainly die in prison.
Kociuk, a career bank robber, appeared stone-faced minutes after the verdict and had no words for the court.
Family members of the victim cried and embraced in court.
“It was the most nervous moment I ever had, waiting for that verdict,” Dyke’s son Chris said outside court.
In a prepared statement, Chris thanked police and justice officials for their dogged pursuit of his mother’s killer.
“Our family has been waiting 26 years for a conclusion to this nightmare,” Chris said. “Our mom would have been deeply touched by the diligence and dedication that so many people have shown in finding her killer and bringing justice to her memory.”
Kociuk’s conviction is a testament to the value of the national DNA bank. Had he not continued in a life of crime and been required to submit a DNA sample following a 2005 conviction for bank robbery, he might never have been charged with Dyke’s murder, let alone convicted.
Jurors were told Kociuk raped and stabbed Dyke to death on May 15, 1984 and left her half-naked body in a wooded area near what is now called Richardson International Airport.
Kociuk’s lawyers argued another man, Leonard White, was responsible for Dyke’s murder.
White confessed to the killing in 1988 but police dismissed the confession, believing White gleaned details of the slaying from news reports.
Court heard testimony suggesting White claimed responsibility for the killing so he could remain in prison with his male lover.
Jurors also heard evidence White attempted to commit suicide the same day Dyke’s body was discovered.
White was killed in 1999.
Jurors also heard testimony from a neighbour who claimed he saw Dyke outside her home a day after prosecutors said she was killed.
“Mr. Kociuk had sex with (Dyke) at one time, Leonard White killed her,” defence lawyer Roberta Campbell said in her closing address to jurors Wednesday. “He killed her and the police are wrong. The police make mistakes now and they made them in the ‘80s.”
Beverley Ann Dyke was brutally raped and stabbed to death 26 years ago, her half-naked body discarded in a wooded area near the Winnipeg airport. Now a Winnipeg man has been convicted of a "cold case" killing which grieving family members feared would never be solved.
Robert Kociuk, 68, was found guilty Friday night of first-degree murder and given a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. Jurors reached their verdict after just a few hours of deliberations. Kociuk showed no visible reaction upon learning he will remain in prison until he’s at least 93, while members of the victim’s family broke down in tears and embraced each other.
"Our family has been waiting 26 years for a conclusion to this nightmare," an emotional Chris Dyke said outside the courthouse.
His mother, Beverley, was randomly targeted and attacked by Kociuk IN 1984 in a case which puzzled and frustrated investigators for years. Kociuk was finally linked to the crime after advancements in technology meant a sample of his DNA collected following a robbery conviction was matched to semen found on Dyke’s body.
"The DNA registry is a remarkable thing. It gives you new hope," said Dyke. "We hope that with this conviction we will finally be able to get some closure and put our mother to rest."
Personally, I feel that the defence did raise a reasonable doubt as to whether Kociuk committed this crime as another man had confessed to the murder. Besides his DNA, their was no evidence that Kociuk murdered this woman and no evidence that the sex he had with her, was consensual or sexual assault. I also dont agree with the mandatory minimum sentence for murder of no parole eligibility for 25 years. Judges should be allowed to have ultimate discretion and should be free to consider aggravating and mitigating circumstances to arrive at a decision and not to be bound to MMS. Every murder case is different and unique and some warrant lengthier sentences than others. They should all be treated the same as that leads to inequalities in the system with some people being sentenced more harshly than what was needed and leads to disproportionate sentences.
It's a tough case though, because on the other hand, he could be seen as lying about the fact that he didnt kill Dyke or sexually assault her. It could be seen that he was actually searching for the gun that night. But the problem with that is, that he actually did commit a robbery the next day with the gun that he bought that night while near the murder scene. He also has no motive to kill this woman and had no previous relationship with her. So how did he meet her and why would he want to kill her?
It's a tough case though, because on the other hand, he could be seen as lying about the fact that he didnt kill Dyke or sexually assault her. It could be seen that he was actually searching for the gun that night. But the problem with that is, that he actually did commit a robbery the next day with the gun that he bought that night while near the murder scene. He also has no motive to kill this woman and had no previous relationship with her. So how did he meet her and why would he want to kill her?
