The Edinburgh Cold Cases

I first came across Helen Kane's name in a brief police summary, no more than a paragraph long. Twenty‑five years old. Married. Four children. Killed in Edinburgh in 1970. No suspect charged. The file ended as abruptly as it began.

What struck me at once was not the violence of the crime, but how ordinary everything before it appeared to be.

Helen Kane lived with her husband Joe and their children in Craigmillar. She had no criminal record, no known enemies, and no history suggesting she was at risk. In modern terms, she would be described as a low‑risk victim. Nothing in the available records shows that those who knew her believed she was in danger.

On Saturday 24 May 1970, Helen Kane spent the evening drinking with her husband and a small group of friends in Leith. They moved between pubs in the Duke Street area. Witness statements taken later describe the night as unremarkable. There were no reports of serious disagreements, raised voices, or disturbances that might have drawn attention.