害羞草研究所� Warning, this story contains disturbing details

Obnes Regis has changed his plea to guilty in the killing of his wife, Naomi Onotera, in 2021.

Regis害羞草研究所檚 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 Regis害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所渙ne punch害羞草研究所� to Onotera害羞草研究所檚 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 morning害羞草研究所檚 guilty plea, Regis害羞草研究所檚 sentencing has been scheduled for mid-June.

Ng commented to media outside the courtroom, saying she can害羞草研究所檛 speak to Regis害羞草研究所檚 emotional state regarding the guilty plea, but expects June 17 sentencing hearing to be 害羞草研究所渆motionally charged.害羞草研究所�

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: 害羞草研究所淚t certainly is something that is less impactful,害羞草研究所� compared to if he害羞草研究所檇 pleaded guilty earlier, she noted.

Inside the courtroom, Onotera害羞草研究所檚 close family members watched quietly as Regis stood and answered the judge害羞草研究所檚 questions about his changed plea. He answered simply 害羞草研究所測es害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所淢r. Big害羞草研究所� sting while Regis was in custody. Regis allegedly told undercover officers that he disposed of his wife害羞草研究所檚 body parts along the Fort to Fort Trail in Fort Langley and in the Fraser River.

After Monday害羞草研究所檚 proceedings, Naomi害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淪he was an amazing mother,害羞草研究所� Kerr said. 害羞草研究所淪he lived for her daughter, and she would do anything for her. And that害羞草研究所檚 one of the hardest parts is knowing that she won害羞草研究所檛 get to do that害羞草研究所� She won害羞草研究所檛 get to see all her milestones. Her graduations, even going to kindergarten, going up growing up through school. She was a amazing sister.害羞草研究所�

Kerr thanked the RCMP and all the people who害羞草研究所檝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 害羞草研究所� all English, all French, or bilingual. So far, Regis害羞草研究所� 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 Onotera害羞草研究所檚 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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