Okanagan man accused of killing his ex-wife delivers closing arguments to jury - BERITAJA

The second-degree execution trial of Vitali Stefanski is nearing its conclusion successful B.C. Supreme Court successful Kamloops.

Closing arguments wrapped up Thursday and were followed by the judge’s last instructions to the assemblage up of deliberations.

Stefanski is accused of sidesplitting his ex-wife Tatjana Stefanski, whose assemblage was recovered connected April 14, 2024, down a steep embankment disconnected a wood work roadworthy successful the North Okanagan, 1 time aft being reported missing.

Stefanski delivered his ain closing arguments to the assemblage aft he took behaviour connected his ain defence mid-trial.

“My arguments to you that I americium not blameworthy I will coming present and you should judge me. I americium not guilty,” Stefanski told the jury.

Security video presented during the proceedings showed the erstwhile mates speaking astatine the apical of Tatjana Stefanski’s driveway successful Lumby earlier prosecutors allege Stefanski forced her into his conveyance and drove away.

The Crown alleges she died from aggregate stab wounds. Stefanski testified that his ex-wife stabbed herself.

Stefanski took good complete an hr for his closing arguments.

He said quickly, rejecting a batch of the grounds presented by Crown, including the RCMP’s grounds that he confessed to the execution erstwhile he came crossed constabulary connected the wood work road.

“That connection that she’s dormant and I killed her, I ne'er said that,” he told the jury. “That connection does not exist, truthful that does not beryllium and he has nary impervious that it does exist.”

In his closing arguments, he besides said that Tatjana had moved into the backmost spot of the conveyance to rest, pointing to what he said was the absence of fingerprints connected model controls and doorway handles arsenic grounds supporting his declare that she inflicted the fatal injuries herself.

“Otherwise she will effort to unfastened the door, calling for help, moving retired aliases thing else,” Stefanski told the jury.

The proceedings began connected May 25.

“I see, you know, benignant of the limbo that this family has been successful each this time,” said Jen de Bourcier, a family friend who has been attending overmuch of the trial.

“I conscionable really want this to beryllium complete for them and for myself, you know, moreover conscionable arsenic a friend coming. It’s conscionable this waiting, conscionable benignant of this hostility successful waiting for justness to beryllium served.”

Tatjana and the accused shared 2 children.  Both testified astatine the trial.

Gaudreault, who has ineligible guardianship of both, said the full ordeal since Tatjana’s passing and re-living the calamity done the proceedings has been unbearably painful.

In summation to justice, he’s besides hoping the trial’s conclusion brings a consciousness of closure.

“Possibly capable to respire again and commencement a full marque caller life pinch my and Tatjana’s children and conscionable transportation on,” Gaudreault said.

The proceedings judge spent respective hours delivering last instructions to the assemblage Thursday afternoon, pinch deliberations to follow.