During the trial of a former lawyer in Kamloops accused of first-degree murder, the Crown attorney revealed that the accused meticulously planned the murder of his client over a span of more than a week.
Ann Katrine Saettler, the prosecutor, informed the court in Vancouver that Rogelio ‘Butch’ Bagabuyo had written a detailed “planning note,” instructing himself to take specific precautions, such as not bringing his phone or watch, turning off GPS, and disposing of any evidence.
Bagabuyo stands accused of the first-degree murder of his client, Mohd Abdullah, a lecturer at Thompson Rivers University, which took place on March 11, 2022.
The court learned that Abdullah had hired Bagabuyo in 2016 to help hide significant sums of money during his separation from his wife. However, Bagabuyo ended up spending the funds, leading to a dispute when Abdullah demanded the money back.
In her closing arguments, Saettler presented the Crown’s theory that Bagabuyo resorted to murder after feeling pressured by Abdullah’s demands for the return of the money. She highlighted a video showing Bagabuyo purchasing a tote from Home Depot, similar to the one used to conceal Abdullah’s body.
While Bagabuyo’s lawyer, Mark Swartz, has yet to present his closing arguments, he acknowledged that his client admitted to killing Abdullah but claimed it was manslaughter.
Saettler detailed how Bagabuyo delayed returning Abdullah’s money for years by concocting various excuses, including setting up shell corporations and concerns about tax authorities. As Abdullah grew increasingly impatient, he confronted Bagabuyo in emails and a recorded conversation about the money.
The court heard that Bagabuyo fatally stabbed Abdullah during a meeting at the law office on March 11, 2022, amid renovations after a fire. He had purchased items like a propane tank and a hacksaw for disposing of the body, but altered his plans when contacted by the police about Abdullah’s disappearance on March 15.
In a twist, Bagabuyo enlisted the help of a neighbor, unaware of the true nature of the situation, to rent a van and assist in disposing of the tote containing Abdullah’s body.
Bagabuyo was apprehended on March 18, 2022, a day after the body was discovered by the neighbor’s grandson. Initially facing charges of indignity to human remains, he was later charged with first-degree murder more than a year later. Bagabuyo has been out on bail since July 12, 2023.
Dressed in a dark pinstriped suit and blue dress shirt and tie, Bagabuyo appeared in court on Tuesday. The B.C. Law Society confirmed that he is no longer practicing law, with a custodian appointed to close his legal practice in May 2022.
This report by The Canadian Press was originally published on October 7, 2025.