B次元官网网址� Warning, this story contains disturbing details
Obnes Regis has changed his plea to guilty in the killing of his wife, Naomi Onotera, in 2021.
RegisB次元官网网址檚 trial for manslaughter and indignity to human remains in the death of Onotera began on Monday, May 27. The defence was to begin its case on Friday, but RegisB次元官网网址檚 lawyer, Gloria Ng, announced her client had chosen to withdraw his not guilty plea, and instead pleaded guilty to both manslaughter and indignity to human remains.
Ng indicated he admitted to manslaughter by B次元官网网址渙ne punchB次元官网网址� to OnoteraB次元官网网址檚 head, which is similar to his admission during a police interrogation after his December, 2021 arrest.
During questioning, video of which was played for the court during a voir dire hearing, Regis acknowledged hitting Onotera during an argument. After that admission to police, he began howling, crying, and collapsed to the floor of the interrogation room.
Onotera went missing at the end of August 2021, and by mid-September police were looking into Regis as a suspect. With Friday morningB次元官网网址檚 guilty plea, RegisB次元官网网址檚 sentencing has been scheduled for mid-June.
Ng commented to media outside the courtroom, saying she canB次元官网网址檛 speak to RegisB次元官网网址檚 emotional state regarding the guilty plea, but expects June 17 sentencing hearing to be B次元官网网址渆motionally charged.B次元官网网址�
She was asked about how late the guilty plea has come about, and whether that will carry any weight with the judge when it comes to sentencing: B次元官网网址淚t certainly is something that is less impactful,B次元官网网址� compared to if heB次元官网网址檇 pleaded guilty earlier, she noted.
Inside the courtroom, OnoteraB次元官网网址檚 close family members watched quietly as Regis stood and answered the judgeB次元官网网址檚 questions about his changed plea. He answered simply B次元官网网址測esB次元官网网址� through a French interpreter as Justice Martha Devlin asked him about each element of the changed plea, and if he understood the consequences of his decision.
The trial began Monday, May 27, with a voluminous listing of agreed facts and evidence that was presented during a pair of lengthy pre-trial voir dire hearings last fall and earlier this spring.
The evidence already before Devlin, in a judge-only trial with no jury, included a videotaped interrogation of Regis by the RCMP, video and audio taken by undercover officers, video surveillance, and forensic evidence, including pieces of human tissue and DNA.
Devlin warned family and other loved ones about the disturbing information that was going to be presented during trial.
On Monday Crown counsel Crichton Pike presented evidence from the undercover officers and a B次元官网网址淢r. BigB次元官网网址� sting while Regis was in custody. Regis allegedly told undercover officers that he disposed of his wifeB次元官网网址檚 body parts along the Fort to Fort Trail in Fort Langley and in the Fraser River.
After MondayB次元官网网址檚 proceedings, NaomiB次元官网网址檚 sister spoke on behalf of the family. Kirsten Kerr spoke about the people loved by her sister, including her students and friends. Onotera was a mother and teacher.
B次元官网网址淪he was an amazing mother,B次元官网网址� Kerr said. B次元官网网址淪he lived for her daughter, and she would do anything for her. And thatB次元官网网址檚 one of the hardest parts is knowing that she wonB次元官网网址檛 get to do thatB次元官网网址� She wonB次元官网网址檛 get to see all her milestones. Her graduations, even going to kindergarten, going up growing up through school. She was a amazing sister.B次元官网网址�
Kerr thanked the RCMP and all the people whoB次元官网网址檝e worked very hard on this case for all their efforts.
The trial had to be postponed due to a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that allowed defendants to choose in which official language they wanted their court proceedings done B次元官网网址� all English, all French, or bilingual. So far, RegisB次元官网网址� court proceedings have been conducted in English, with a translator. When the latest proceedings started, he was asked for his language preference and after consulting with his lawyer, opted to continue with English and a translator.
On Wednesday, Sgt. Heather Burwell continued testimony that begun on Tuesday, talking about the search for evidence in OnoteraB次元官网网址檚 Langley City home between Dec. 17 and 19, 2021.
There were no proceedings on Thursday, and the trial resumed Friday when the plea was changed.
Victim impact statements will be given at the sentencing hearing beginning on June 17, when Ng said her client is also expected to make a statement about how this has impacted him and about the decisions he made. The hearing could run for three days.
There is no agreement between Crown counsel and the defence on a recommended sentence. It will be a contested sentencing hearing, with each side arguing for its preferred sentence length.
Manslaughter has one of the broadest possible sentencing ranges in the Criminal Code. Sentences can be as high as life in prison, but there is no minimum sentence, unless the crime was committed with a firearm.
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