In a first-degree murder trial in Kamloops, British Columbia, the Crown attorney accused a former lawyer of meticulously orchestrating the killing of his client over a span of more than a week. Ann Katrine Saettler revealed that the accused, Rogelio “Butch” Bagabuyo, had written a detailed “planning note” instructing himself to dispose of all evidence, avoid carrying his phone or E-watch, disable GPS tracking, and discard any incriminating items.
The trial, held at the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, centers on Bagabuyo’s alleged involvement in the March 11, 2022, murder of his client, Mohd Abdullah, a lecturer at Thompson Rivers University. Bagabuyo’s defense attorney, Mark Swartz, acknowledged his client’s responsibility for Abdullah’s death but argued that it should be classified as manslaughter rather than first-degree murder.
During the trial, it was revealed that Abdullah had engaged Bagabuyo’s legal services in 2016, and the two colluded to conceal substantial sums of money from Abdullah’s spouse during their separation. Saettler referenced a forensic accountant’s testimony indicating that Abdullah transferred over $780,000 to Bagabuyo between 2016 and 2022, with a significant portion of these funds sustaining Bagabuyo’s lifestyle.
The prosecutor emphasized that Bagabuyo deliberately delayed returning Abdullah’s money by fabricating excuses, knowing that his financial misdeeds could lead to severe repercussions. Saettler argued that Bagabuyo’s decision to carry out the murder was fueled by his mounting financial troubles, compounded by his deceitful practices and fear of legal consequences.
To substantiate premeditation, Saettler presented evidence of Bagabuyo purchasing a container resembling the one used to conceal Abdullah’s body. She highlighted the irrationality of using such a container for storing legal documents, further underscoring the calculated nature of the crime. Additionally, Saettler detailed Bagabuyo’s actions leading up to and following the murder, including his efforts to dispose of the body and evade detection.
The Crown’s case posits that Bagabuyo meticulously planned the murder, selecting a secure location within a law office to minimize the risk of detection. Surveillance footage of Bagabuyo’s activities, coupled with witness testimonies and financial records, painted a compelling picture of a calculated and premeditated crime.
Bagabuyo’s arrest on March 18, 2022, came after the discovery of Abdullah’s body in the container, a grim revelation made by a neighbor’s grandson. Initially charged with indignity to human remains, Bagabuyo now faces the more severe charge of first-degree murder. Despite his bail release in July 2023, the gravity of the charges he faces underscores the potential for a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
