The man who was fatally stabbed in the neck on a Kelowna city bus last week is being remembered as a kind and caring adventurer who lived life to the fullest.
Caesar Rosales, 55, was riding a city bus early Thursday evening when he was stabbed in the neck in an apparently random murder.
Onlookers tried in vain to stop Rosales’ bleeding, but he died at the scene.
Rosales immigrated to Canada from the Philippines more than 10 years ago and worked as an analyst at Kelowna Flightcraft for the last two years.
“We’re a large employer here in Kelowna but we’re a very tight-knit community, and Caesar had the opportunity to connect with hundreds of our employees across the company,” said company spokesman Grant Stevens.
His coworkers knew something was wrong Friday when Rosales, a usually punctual employee, didn’t show up for work.
“He was Mr. Steady. You could count on him day in and day out,” Stevens said.
Employees soon discovered that he had been brutally killed on a bus the night before. “It was a devastating tragedy,” said Stevens. “It was very difficult for the staff.”
Rosales is being remembered as a polite and gentle man, but one who has tried everything from skydiving to zip lining to bungee jumping.
Police have charged Rosales’ alleged killer, 23-year-old Tyler Jack Newton, with second-degree murder.
Newton made a brief court appearance Monday and made no appeal for bail, so he will remain in police custody.
The suspect has a lengthy criminal record including convictions of auto theft and drug offences, but doesn’t appear to have a violent criminal history.
He’ll appear in court again on Nov. 20.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Kent Molgat
