MLA Wilson accused of assault in family dispute

By Glenn Hicks

Long-serving Saskatchewan Rivers MLA Nadine Wilson has been accused of assault as a private family matter involving the financial affairs of her late father goes very public.

Wilson has not commented on the accusations and the Saskatchewan Party says it’s a private matter that does not impact her position.

Lorraine Kingsley Helbig, 87, who was married to Wilson’s father, Walter Helbig, for 20 years, claims Wilson burst into her Saskatoon apartment in March and assaulted her. She alleges Wilson also hit her 61-year-old son when he showed up.

Kingsley Helbig claims Wilson had arrived demanding to see her 90-year-old father Walter, who had dementia.

“She just forced her way through the door and I held it as long as I could,” Kingsley Helbig told paNOW. “She scratched me down my neck and chest and pushed me against the dining room table and hurt my right arm.”

Kingsley Helbig phoned her son Eric Hocknes, 61, who lives nearby and claims that when he arrived, Wilson “went after him as well.”

“She was hitting him and kicking him and he was just holding his hands out because Eric would never hit a woman,” she said.

Kingsley Helbig called the police but said Wilson left by the time they arrived.

Catherine Heinz, Kingsley Helbig’s daughter, was visiting at the time but was out of the apartment when the alleged incident happened. She claims police later told them that Wilson had already made a report that she had been assaulted by her mother and Hocknes.

“That switched things to just the police coming to the apartment to them having to do an investigation,” Heinz said.

Kingsley Helbig said she and her husband went to the police station about a week after the incident for an interview, which was very stressful, especially for Walter, given his condition. He died five weeks after the incident April 30.

She said she had no idea why the alleged incident took place, but believes it may have had something to do with Power of Attorney claims.

“I thought for the 25 years I knew her, that we were good friends; we’d go blueberry picking together, birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries,” she said recalling their relationship.

Police confirm investigation

The Saskatoon Police Service confirmed it responded to an assault complaint.

“We can confirm we are investigating a complaint of an assault that occurred on March 21, 2019,” the police service said in an email to CKOM. “The file is currently being investigated and is with prosecutors for an opinion. We cannot provide any further comment.”

paNOW reached out to Wilson for comment but she did not respond. Her personal lawyer was unavailable for comment.

In an email to paNOW, the Saskatchewan Party said:

“As this is a private family matter and does not relate to Ms. Wilson’s responsibilities as an MLA, any questions regarding this matter should be referred to her personal lawyer. As this personal matter does not relate to her role as an MLA, Ms. Wilson’s status in caucus has not changed.”