In the first-degree murder trial of a former lawyer from Kamloops, British Columbia, the Crown prosecutor stated that the accused meticulously orchestrated the killing of his client over a period exceeding one week. Ann Katrine Saettler, addressing a Vancouver court, revealed that Rogelio “Butch” Bagabuyo had crafted a detailed “planning note” instructing himself to secure all belongings, refrain from carrying electronic devices, disable GPS tracking, and dispose of any evidence post-incident.
Bagabuyo stands accused of first-degree murder in the tragic demise of his client, Mohd Abdullah, a lecturer at Thompson Rivers University, on March 11, 2022. Bagabuyo’s defense attorney, Mark Swartz, acknowledged his client’s admission of the act but asserted that it was manslaughter during a court session before Justice Kathleen Ker.
The court learned of a collaborative effort between Abdullah and Bagabuyo to conceal substantial sums of money during Abdullah’s marital separation, with Bagabuyo subsequently dissipating the funds. Saettler referenced a financial expert’s testimony indicating that Bagabuyo had received over $780,000 from Abdullah between 2016 and 2022, primarily funded by Abdullah himself.
According to Saettler, Bagabuyo prolonged the return of Abdullah’s funds by fabricating excuses, such as the establishment of shell companies and concerns regarding the Canadian Revenue Agency. The prosecutor highlighted Abdullah’s growing impatience with the delayed repayment, supported by email exchanges and an audio recording from 2021 where Abdullah pressed Bagabuyo on the matter.
Saettler posited that Bagabuyo’s decision to commit the murder was prompted by a realization on March 1, 2022, that he could no longer deceive Abdullah, leading to a premeditated plan. The financial audit unveiled Bagabuyo’s financial mismanagement, including substantial debts, non-disclosure of income to the CRA, and pending Law Society audits, creating a motive for the lethal actions.
To establish premeditation, Saettler presented evidence of Bagabuyo purchasing a tote from Home Depot resembling the one used to conceal Abdullah’s body, indicating a deliberate intent. She contended that the acquisition of such a container for storing legal documents was illogical, lending credence to the Crown’s assertion of meticulous planning.
Saettler detailed the gruesome events of Abdullah’s fatal encounter at the law office, emphasizing Bagabuyo’s preparation and execution of the crime. Following the murder, Bagabuyo meticulously orchestrated the disposal of Abdullah’s body, employing deceptive tactics to evade suspicion before being apprehended on March 18, 2022.
Bagabuyo, initially charged with indignity to human remains, later faced a first-degree murder charge over a year later. Despite being on bail since July 12, 2023, a conviction for first-degree murder could result in a life sentence without parole for 25 years. The British Columbia Law Society confirmed Bagabuyo’s disbarment and the appointment of a custodian to manage the closure of his legal practice in May 2022.
