The lawyer from Kamloops accused of first-degree murder in the death of a client three years ago has opted not to testify in his own defense at the last minute. Rogelio (Butch) Bagabayo was set to take the stand on Tuesday morning for his trial by judge alone but decided against giving testimony throughout the week. Instead, Bagabuyo’s lawyer, Mark Swartz, revealed a “late development” at the start of the proceedings, stating that the defense would not present any evidence.
Bagabuyo is facing charges for allegedly stabbing Thompson Rivers University computer science professor Mohd Abdullah to death over three years ago. The 55-year-old lawyer, who is not in custody, appeared in a dark suit and glasses at the hearing in Vancouver, with a stack of papers in front of him.
Abdullah was last seen alive in March 2022 heading to Bagabuyo’s office in downtown Kamloops. His remains were discovered days later in a plastic bin inside a rental van, with an autopsy confirming multiple stab wounds to his chest and back.
During the trial, Crown prosecutor Ann Katrine Saettler informed Justice Kathleen Ker that Abdullah had given Bagabuyo over $700,000 in 2016 during his divorce. Abdullah expected the money back after the divorce was finalized but had not received it by March 2022, with the funds still missing.
Bagabuyo was initially charged with interfering with human remains shortly after Abdullah’s body was found, followed by a murder charge over a year later. He has been out on bail since July 2023. Abdullah, a 60-year-old who worked at Thompson Rivers University for 21 years, was esteemed for his contributions to the Faculty of Science and Open Learning, as per the university’s statement in 2022.
Closing arguments for the trial are set to commence on October 6 in Vancouver.