Convicted murderer in Bosse’s death appeals

Douglas Hales is appealing his second-degree murder conviction in the violent death of Darlene Bosse. The verdict came down in December 2014 after years of trial delays due to legal representation issues. Bosse disappeared in May 2004. Her body was found in a wooded area outside of Saskatoon in August 2008 after Hales confessed to undercover officers during the sting operation that he killed Bosse and burned her body. Lawyers for Hales filed papers with the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal on Jan. 8, citing three reasons, two of which concern a ruling made by the Supreme Court of Canada last year on “Mr. Big” sting operations, which was handed down after closing arguments had been made but before a verdict was delivered. Judge Allbright, who presided over Hales’ trial, stated in his verdict that Hales’ admission during the sting met the test set out by the Supreme Court. Following an eight-month trial, Hales was found guilty of second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a body. He was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 15 years.