KELOWNA – A four day hearing started Tuesday at the Kelowna Law Courts in a local murder case.
In November 2014, Caesar Rosales, 55, was fatally slashed in the neck while riding a transit bus in what police say was a random and unprovoked attack by a stranger.
Another alleged passenger, 23-year-old Tyler Jack Newton, was arrested a day later and charged with second-degree murder.
The prosecutor is calling 17 witnesses at the Preliminary Inquiry to try to convince a provincial court judge there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
A few of Newton’s supporters are in the court room.
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The proceedings are subject to a publication ban.
Rosales moved to the Okanagan from the Lower Mainland about two years before his murder to take a business systems analyst position with Kelowna Flightcraft.
“He’s the most anti-confrontational, anti-violent person you’re ever going to meet,” said company spokesperson Grant Stevens following the killing. “He’s just the most gentle, kind, warm-hearted individual and I just can’t imagine something like this happening to an individual like that.”
Newton, who is in custody, has a lengthy criminal record.
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