Family and friends of Naomi Onotera face man who killed her as sentencing hearing begins
Warning: This story contains details that readers may find distrubing.
People in the gallery openly wept Monday as friends and family of Naomi Onotera took the stand at a sentencing hearing to share stories about positive ways she touched their lives — and the devastating impact her death at the hands of her husband has had on them.
Family reported 40-year-old Onotera missing in late August of 2021.
For months, RCMP and the community rallied to search for the popular Langley elementary school teacher-librarian.
In December, Obnes Regis admitted to undercover police that he killed his wife with a single punch during an argument in a bathroom in the couple’s home.
He also told the officers that he dismembered Onotera’s body and disposed of her remains.
Despite that confession, he initially pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and committing indignity to human remains, before abruptly changing his plea a few days into his trial at New Westminster Supreme Court.
Court heard Regis left the couple’s 18-month-old daughter in a playpen next to her mother as Onotera lay injured and unconscious on the floor gasping for breath — before eventually putting the child to bed and returning to watch Onotera die.
He told police she died approximately one hour after he punched her and during that time made no attempt to help her or call 911.
Regis also took his daughter with him to dispose of Onotera’s remains the day after he killed her.
They took public transit and a taxi from Surrey to Maple Ridge and eventually to Fort Langley where Regis told police he had discarded the remains along the bank of the Fraser River.
“My sister’s murder is something I will never heal from. It will be etched in my heart and mind, and the pain and sorrow will never go away,” Kirsten Kerr, Onotera's sister said as she read out her victim impact statement.
In all, nine family members and one close friend shared victim impact statements with the court.
“When we found out about Naomi’s death, her father and I were devastated,” said Maureen Onotera said about her daughter. “We never thought we would be living our final years without her.”
Regis stared ahead and showed no emotion as his former in-laws laid bare the trauma, grief and anger they have experienced as a result of what he did to Onotera.
The Crown is seeking a sentence of 14 years on the manslaughter charge and an additional five years for the indignity to Onotera’s remains — with the sentences to be served consecutively.
“What Mr. Regis did was horrific, inhuman, monstrous and almost unimaginable,” Crown Counsel Crichton Pile told the court.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for four days.
The defence has not yet begun submissions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump's Madison Square Garden event features crude and racist insults
Donald Trump took the stage Sunday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden to deliver his campaign's closing argument with the election nine days away after several of his allies used crude and racist insults toward U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and other critics of the former president.
B.C. election results: Mail-in ballots heavily favour NDP, only absentee ballots left to count
The majority of mail-in ballots tallied this weekend for the final count in B.C.’s nail-bitingly close 2024 provincial election went to the NDP, increasing the party’s chances of clinching a third term.
Here's when you need to change your clock back
Millions of Canadians will notice their clocks turn back by one hour on Nov. 3, marking the end of daylight saving time this year.
New polls show Sask. NDP leading over Sask. Party ahead of election day
A pair of new pre-election polls indicate that the Saskatchewan NDP has a slight lead ahead of election day.
17-year-old charged for driving 188 km/h on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
A 17-year-old Ottawa driver was caught speeding nearly 90 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 417.
Hollywood star Victor Garber gets emotional after surprise meeting with his former teacher in London, Ont.
Victor Garber got teary-eyed when he walked into a brunch in his honour Sunday in London, Ont.
Another bumpy week ahead as Trudeau faces deadlines from Liberal MPs, Bloc
Another week, another raft of imminent challenges to Justin Trudeau's leadership of both the country and the Liberal Party.
He lost a finger and survived a kidnapping. Then, this climber took on a 9,000-foot 'death-trap'
With jaw-dropping big wall ascents and a life packed with adrenaline and adventure, climber Tommy Caldwell has had a career worthy of – and captured by – a feature film.
How to make sure your used clothes go to the right place – and not to organized crime
Giving away used clothes for a second life feels like an act of charity – and it often is. But it’s become more complicated. A W5 investigation has discovered allegations that organized crime players are muscling in on charities to access their donation bins.