It’s 4pm on the 9th of February, 1988. 

A 22-year-old woman named Helen McCourt, with long, dark brown hair picks up the phone.

She's about to leave work at the Royal Insurance office in Liverpool, having negotiated with her boss to leave an hour early. 

Helen is ringing her mother, Marie. She tells her that tonight she’ll be going out with her new boyfriend, but asks that her mother have tea ready when she arrives home so she’ll have enough time to wash her hair. 

Marie agrees. Sitting with her daughter Helen and discussing her work or her relationships or her friendships are among one of her favourite things to do.

Once Helen puts down the receiver, she walks out into the wintery afternoon. It's raining, with fierce gusts of winds, as is often the case in northern England. In just a few hours, the temperature will be near freezing. 

Helen estimates it will take her about an hour and fifteen minutes to arrive home, which she shares with her mother and younger brother in Standish Avenue. 

But 5:30pm comes and goes. Helen’s tea goes cold. Her mother looks out the window at the foul weather making the streets unbearable. 

Where is Helen?

And how close has she come that evening to opening the front door?

 

CREDITS

Guest: Marie McCourt

Host: Jessie Stephens

Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

 

CONTACT US

Tell us what you think of the show via email at truecrime@mamamia.com.au  

Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

It&rsquo;s 4pm on the 9th of February, 1988.&nbsp;
A 22-year-old woman named Helen McCourt, with long, dark brown hair picks up the phone.
She's about to leave work at the Royal Insurance office in Liverpool, having negotiated with her boss to leave an hour early.&nbsp;
Helen is ringing her mother, Marie. She tells her that tonight she&rsquo;ll be going out with her new boyfriend, but asks that her mother have tea ready when she arrives home so she&rsquo;ll have enough time to wash her hair.&nbsp;
Marie agrees. Sitting with her daughter Helen and discussing her work or her relationships or her friendships are among one of her favourite things to do.
Once Helen puts down the receiver, she walks out into the wintery afternoon. It's raining, with fierce gusts of winds, as is often the case in northern England. In just a few hours, the temperature will be near freezing.&nbsp;
Helen estimates it will take her about an hour and fifteen minutes to arrive home, which she shares with her mother and younger brother in Standish Avenue.&nbsp;
But 5:30pm comes and goes. Helen&rsquo;s tea goes cold. Her mother looks out the window at the foul weather making the streets unbearable.&nbsp;
Where is Helen?
And how close has she come that evening to opening the front door?
&nbsp;
CREDITS
Guest: <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fjustice-for-helen-marie-mccourt%2Fbook%2F9781789462913.html">Marie McCourt</a>
Host: Jessie Stephens
Producer: Gia Moylan
Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri
&nbsp;
CONTACT US
Tell us what you think of the show via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link<a href="https://bit.ly/tcc-group">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/tcc-group</a>&nbsp;
If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via<a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">&nbsp;Lifeline</a>&nbsp;on 13 11 14 or<a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">&nbsp;Beyond Blue</a>&nbsp;on 1300 22 4636
See&nbsp;<a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a>&nbsp;for privacy information.
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

True Crime Conversations explores the world's most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them.

True Crime Conversations explores the world's most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them.

True Crime Conversations

True Crime Conversations explores the stories and the people behind some of the world’s most notorious crimes. 

True Crime Conversations explores the stories and the people behind some of the world’s most notorious crimes.

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