A Kamloops attorney facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of a client three years ago has opted not to testify in his defense at the last minute. Rogelio (Butch) Bagabayo was expected to testify during his trial by judge alone but his lawyer, Mark Swartz, announced a sudden decision not to present any evidence.
Bagabuyo is accused of fatally stabbing Mohd Abdullah, a computer science professor at Thompson Rivers University, more than three years ago. The 55-year-old lawyer, who is not in custody, appeared in court wearing a dark suit and glasses during the proceedings in Vancouver.
Abdullah was last seen alive in March 2022, heading to Bagabuyo’s office in downtown Kamloops. His body was discovered days later in a rental van, with an autopsy revealing multiple stab wounds to his chest and back.
During the trial, it was revealed that Abdullah had given Bagabuyo over $700,000 in 2016, with the expectation of repayment after his divorce. However, by March 2022, the money had not been returned, leading to suspicions that Bagabuyo was involved in its disappearance.
Bagabuyo was initially charged with interfering with human remains shortly after Abdullah’s body was found, with a murder charge coming over a year later. He has been out on bail since July 2023. Abdullah, a respected figure at Thompson Rivers University, had worked there for 21 years and held a significant role in the Faculty of Science and Open Learning.
Closing arguments for the trial are set to commence on October 6 in Vancouver.
