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Jason Gaudreault, whose partner Tatjana Stefanski was found dead on April 14, 2024, after disappearing a day earlier, shows a photograph of her on his phone, in Lumby, B.C., on Monday, May 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
By The Canadian Press

B.C. murder suspect evidence at trial ‘not credible’ or ‘logical,’ Crown lawyer says

Jun 24, 2026 | 11:55 AM

A prosecutor in the trial of the man accused of killing Tatjana Stefanski more than two years ago says the only reasonable conclusion the jury can make is that he “murdered his ex-wife by stabbing her to death.”

Laura Drake told the B.C. Supreme Court jury in Kamloops on Wednesday that Vitali Stefanski’s evidence at trial “cannot and should not raise reasonable doubt.”

In closing submissions at the trial, Drake noted the accused answers to nearly identical questions in cross-examination would change.

“When witnesses do this, lawyers often say that the evidence is self-serving. And what self-serving means is that a witness is more interested in trying to help themselves than they are in telling you the truth.”

She said the evidence against him is “overwhelming” and the common sense view leads to the conclusion that “Mr. Stefanski is guilty and that you should convict him of murder.”

Stefanski pleaded not guilty last month to second-degree murder in the death of his ex-wife, whose body was found with numerous stab wounds off a rural forest road near Lumby, B.C., in 2024.

Drake said the evidence presented at trial showed that the man had pushed his wife into the car and “no one other than him ever saw her alive again.”

Vitali Stefanski testified at trial in his own defence in what Drake said was “inconsistent, illogical and unclear.” She said he was “trying to say whatever he thought would help him in any given moment.”

Vitali Stefanski told the jury that Tatjana Stefanski had stabbed herself in his car, that he “did everything” to get her help and he denied dumping her body, instead saying she slipped from his grasp by the road.

Drake said the evidence showed that he, in fact, “did nothing” to get her help, noting he drove in the opposite direction of the nearest hospital, did not call 911 or even stop his car to check on her.

“Mr. Stefanski did not want to get Tatjana help. He wanted her dead and he did not want to be caught,” Drake said.

During his testimony, Stefanski denied earlier evidence from two Mounties who said the suspect had confessed to killing his ex-wife when he emerged shoeless from the forest.

The officers were following a tow truck that was pulling Stefanski’s bloodstained car that was discovered parked on a forest service road.

Tatjana Stefanski’s body was found several kilometres away later that day. The trial heard that she was stabbed in the chest seven times, injuring her heart and lungs, leading to her death.

“In my submission, you should have no trouble concluding that Mr. Stefanski lies when it is convenient to him,” Drake said.

She said the evidence shows that all of the sharp-force injuries Tatjana Stefanski suffered “occurred between Mr. Stefanski pushing her into his car and her body being found the next day.”

“Mr. Stefanski caused all these sharp-force injuries, and he did so because he intended to kill Tatiana Stefanski,” she said.

The trial also heard a bent and bloodied knife was found near the body and it carried the DNA of both Tatjana and Vitali Stefanski.

Drake said the jury should reject Vitali Stefanski’s submission that she stabbed herself “in its entirety.”

“I say that logic, common sense, and human experience tells you there is no possibility that Tatjana Stefanski caused all of these sharp-force injuries to herself,” Drake said.

Stefanski had previously been represented by Vancouver lawyer Tony Lagemaat, but jurors were told last week that he will be representing himself, including delivering closing arguments.

He is expected to deliver those arguments on Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 24, 2026.

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press