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A Kelowna judge sentenced Tyler Newton on Friday morning to seven years in jail for killing a fellow bus passenger.
The Kelowna man stabbed and killed 55-year-old Caesar Rosales on Oct. 23, 2014, at a bus stop on Baron Road. Newton was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Rosales, but on Wednesday he pleaded not guilty to that charge.
He instead pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Defence lawyer Jordan Watt built Newton’s case on Thursday in Kelowna. He said Newton had an “unfortunate” upbringing that played a part in the stabbing of Rosales.
He told Justice Heather Holmes that Newton has been addicted to drugs since he was 11-years-old. Watt recommended Holmes sentence Newton to between three to five years behind bars.
Crown counsel made it clear in court that Newton deserved at least 10 years behind bars, but Watt said that was too much.
Rosales brother, Darwin Rosales, travelled to Kelowna from the Philippines for Newton’s sentencing. Darwin told KelownaNow outside Kelowna Law Courts on Wednesday that Newton deserved to be given the maximum sentence.
“What he did was really treacherous; he didn’t give my brother much chance to defend himself,” said Darwin. “If he doesn’t define a wasted life than what does? The record shows.”
On Friday morning, Holmes sentenced Newton to seven years behind bars.
Watt told KelownaNow he’s OK with the sentence.
“It was a fair sentence. They took into consideration the appropriate sentence.”
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