Okanagan man accused of murdering ex-wife gives final word to jury – Okanagan

of trial of second degree murder e Vitaly Stefanski is nearing its end at the BC Supreme Court in Kamloops.

Closing arguments concluded Thursday and were followed by the judge’s final instructions to the jury before deliberations.

Stefanski is accused of murdering his ex-wife Tatyana Stefanskiwhose body was found on April 14, 2024, in a steep embankment off a forest service road in the North Okanagan, a day after he was reported missing.

Stefanski delivered his closing arguments to the jury after he made his defense midway through the trial.

“I will present my arguments to you that I am not guilty today and you have to believe me. I am not guilty,” Stefanski told the jury.

Security video shown during the trial showed the former couple talking at the head of Tatjana Stefanski’s driveway in Lumby before prosecutors allege Stefanski forced her into his vehicle and drove away.

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

It took Stefanski more than an hour for his closing arguments.

He spoke quickly, dismissing much of the evidence presented by the Crown, including RCMP testimony that he confessed to the killing when he encountered police on a forest service road.

“That statement that she’s dead and I killed her, I never said that,” he told the jury. “That statement doesn’t exist, so it doesn’t exist and he has no evidence that it exists.”

In his closing argument, he also said Tatjana had moved to the back seat of the vehicle to rest, pointing to what he said was the absence of fingerprints on the window controls and door handles as evidence supporting his contention that she self-inflicted the fatal injuries.

“Otherwise she’s going to try to open the door, calling for help, running away or something,” Stefanski told the jury.

The trial began on May 25.

“I see, you know, kind of the limbo that this family has been in this whole time,” said Jen de Bourcier, a family friend who has attended much of the trial.

“I just want this to be over for them and for myself, you know, even as a friend coming. It’s just this waiting, just kind of a tension in waiting for justice to be served.”

Tatjana and the accused had two children. Both testified at trial.

Gaudreault, who has legal custody of the two, said the whole ordeal since Tatiana’s death and reliving the tragedy during the trial has been extremely painful.

In addition to justice, he also hopes the conclusion of the trial will bring a sense of closure.

“Maybe I can breathe again and start a whole new life with my kids and Tatiana’s and just keep going,” Gaudreault said.

The trial judge spent several hours giving the jury final instructions Thursday afternoon, with deliberations to follow.

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