Nearly 60 pieces of evidence entered at trial of B.C. lawyer accused of murdering his client
An Exacto knife, a 12-inch blade, and a shovel were among the nearly 60 pieces of evidence presented in a Kamloops, B.C., courtroom during the trial of lawyer Rogelio Bagabuyo, who is accused of killing his client, Mohd Abdullah, a Thompson Rivers University science professor.
Bagabuyo, also known as Butch, sat behind his lawyers in the B.C. Supreme Court courtroom, wearing glasses and taking notes as Justice Kathleen Ker logged in the exhibits. The evidence included rental documents for a Budget van where Abdullah’s remains were discovered in the Dufferin area of Kamloops.
Other items submitted as evidence included a large black storage tote bag, ropes, disposable lighters, cables, and black garbage bags with holes cut out of them. An index card with handwritten notes detailing flight information and instructions to turn off electronic devices was also part of the evidence.
Additionally, a stack of documents containing email exchanges between the victim and the accused, as well as Abdullah’s will and power of attorney documents from 2016, were submitted. The court even had to take a break to find more clear bags to contain all the evidence.
Abdullah, a 60-year-old computer science professor, was reported missing on March 14, 2022, when he failed to show up for work at TRU. His body was found three days later, leading to Bagabuyo being charged with interfering with human remains. Abdullah’s son-in-law described Bagabuyo as a trusted friend, while his daughter, Sarah Jeet Lalata-Buco, remembered her father as a quiet and kind man.
Bagabuyo, a former member of the B.C. Law Society, was charged with murder more than a year after Abdullah’s death and has been out on bail since July 2023. Abdullah had worked at the university for over two decades and had a significant impact on the Faculty of Science and Open Learning.
The Crown is expected to present its opening arguments in the trial on Tuesday, shedding more light on the case surrounding the tragic death of Mohd Abdullah.
