Star of Courage

• Awarded on: January 10, 1983
• Invested on: June 24, 1983

Doreen Elinor Hewitt, S.C.
Keith Woleston, S.C.
Star of Courage

On the morning of 18 December 1980, Doreen Hewitt and Keith Woleston acted without concern for their own lives when they attempted to subdue an enraged man who had already killed once. While driving his taxi at gunpoint to a downtown location, Mr. Woleston sought to attract the attention of a passing policeman. A violent struggle ensued during which a shot was fired as the man opened the car door. A pedestrian, Miss Hewitt, without hesitation and without thinking of her personal safety, ran to the assistance of the cab driver, who by then had managed to take the gun away. She tried to push the passenger back inside the car, in order to delay him until the police arrived, when he suddenly jumped from the car and, wielding a knife, lunged at Miss Hewitt, inflicting a severe abdominal wound. He was immediately apprehended by the police. But for the quick actions of Miss Hewitt and Mr. Woleston the aggressor might well have pursued his murderous rampage.