James Schwalm sat within the prisoner’s field Monday morning weeping as family and friends members informed the court docket in regards to the devastation he precipitated when he murdered his spouse, Ashley Milnes, two years in the past inside their Collingwood, Ont. residence.
Schwalm pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide in June to taking Milnes’ life, then putting her physique inside her automobile and setting it on hearth to make it seem as if she’d crashed down an embankment in a snowstorm.
“No amount of justice will ever be enough for the monstrous act he has committed” stated Milnes’ sister in one among 21 affect statements supplied to the court docket.
Milnes’ father addressed the court docket noting Schwalm murdered his daughter with out regard for her, their two younger youngsters, or household, saying, “This selfish act only benefited you, Jamie,” including, “This was perpetrated by a smart man, a leader, a first responder.”
The grieving man described Schwalm as “a pure narcissist,” saying his daughter’s demise in such a violent and sudden method has devastated all those that knew and cherished her.
Mates known as Milnes a tremendous mom, full of affection and happiness.
A buddy household requested, “How on earth could he do this to his own children?,” whereas the slain woman’s sister stated she couldn’t cease questioning what he was considering.
“James deceived us,” she informed the court docket, describing how Schwalm moved into her household’s residence and “sat there broken and grieving while we consoled him, even though he knew what he’d done.”
The court docket heard Schwalm, a former Brampton hearth captain, killed his spouse on the night time of January 26, 2023, by strangulation then by means of an elaborate collection of occasions loaded her stays into her automobile and drove it down an embankment on Arrowhead Highway. The court docket heard he used a lighter together with his initials on it to torch the stays.
Police say a burned SUV with Ashley Schwalm’s physique inside was discovered down this embankment alongside Arrowhead Highway, south of Freeway 26, in The Blue Mountains. ( Ontario Chronicle/Mike Arsalides)
Schwalm was arrested per week later and fired by the fireplace division.
Police initially charged him with first-degree homicide and committing an indignity to a deceased physique.
Crown Lawyer Lynne Saunders known as the case in opposition to Schwalm “overwhelming,” noting he was “inescapably caught.”
Saunders informed the court docket his preliminary intuition was to run and conceal and “play the role” of a grieving husband.
Married to Milnes for 11 years, the Crown stated Schwalm abused his belief by murdering his spouse after an argument for which she wished to name police.
“He was the one person in the world she was supposed to feel physically safe with,” including, “Ashley trusted she was safe in her home.”
The court docket beforehand heard of infidelity within the relationship and a troubled marriage. The Crown informed the court docket Schwalm was extra involved with shedding cash, his residence and social standing.
“This was very much a financial decision for Mr. Schwalm,” the Crown informed the court docket.
“His choice was to scheme for days, at least, about how to kill the mother of his children and not get caught,” Saunders stated, concluding, “He resolved to do what would make him happy.”
Schwalm was given the chance to deal with these within the courtroom, and admitted feeling disgrace.
“I despise my actions and am haunted,” he stated. “This is where I need to be. Where I deserve to be because of my terrible awful actions.”
His defence is searching for the non-communicate order with the couple’s two youngsters finish once they flip 16, whereas the Crown needs it pushed till they flip 18.
He has undergone parenting, intimate associate violence and grief counselling, together with different coaching periods, whereas in jail.
Moreover, the defence needs him to be eligible for parole in 13 to 14 years. The Crown seeks a long run of 21 to 22 years earlier than he turns into eligible.
Justice Michelle Fuerst is scheduled to condemn Schwalm in February.
