Based on coverage from Global News, Winnipeg Free Press, Sudbury.com, Lethbridge News Now, and Kelowna Capital News.
More than two years after Tatjana Stefanski was found dead in rural B.C., the second-degree murder trial for her ex-husband is now getting underway in Kamloops.
Vitali Stefanski has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection started Monday at B.C. Supreme Court, and court adjourned afterward. Proceedings are set to resume Tuesday, with the full trial expected to run about five weeks, according to the BC Prosecution Service.
Tatjana Stefanski case heads to B.C. Supreme Court
Tatjana Stefanski was 44 and a mother of two. She was last seen April 13, 2024, at a property in Lumby, a village about 25 kilometres east of Vernon in the North Okanagan.
RCMP said at the time she had been reported abducted, and her body was found by officers the next day in a rural area outside Lumby. Police also said a man believed to be involved was arrested in the general vicinity that day, but later released with conditions.
Vitali Stefanski was charged with second-degree murder on May 31, 2024. Multiple reports say he has been in custody since then. As is standard, the charge has not been proven in court.
What happened Monday in Kamloops court
Canadian Press coverage describes Vitali Stefanski appearing in front of potential jurors in Kamloops, dressed in a dark suit and white dress shirt, speaking from a Plexiglas-enclosed defendant’s box. He entered a not-guilty plea to second-degree murder.
Jury selection began Monday morning. The Kamloops Court Registry indicated ahead of time that selection could stretch into Tuesday. Court adjourned after jury selection Monday and is expected to continue Tuesday.
The timeline matters for the people closest to Tatjana. Family friend Jen de Bourcier told reporters the group around Tatjana’s children has been waiting years for the case to reach this stage, while also bracing for how hard it will be to sit through evidence and testimony.
Why the trial moved from Vernon to Kamloops
The trial was originally set for Vernon, but was moved to Kamloops late last year.
According to reporting that cites the Prosecution Service, the judge decided the accused would not be able to reasonably participate in the trial if it were held in Vernon. One specific issue raised in coverage: defence arguments that Vitali Stefanski would not have access to his laptop to review daily evidence if he were held in Vernon RCMP cells during the trial. He is in custody at the Kamloops Correctional Centre.
The move has been a sore point for Tatjana’s loved ones. Jason Gaudreault, who was Tatjana’s partner at the time of her death, previously told Global News the relocation could mean long drives for short court days, describing the possibility of a three-hour round trip for limited time in the courtroom.
Lumby community support and family impact
People in Lumby have rallied around Tatjana’s two children and around Gaudreault since her death, according to reporting from the area.
De Bourcier said she hopes the trial helps give the family a starting point to rebuild, even if it is emotionally punishing. Gaudreault has also framed the first day of trial as a step toward closure, thanking supporters on social media.
Gaudreault has said both children are expected to testify during the trial. (Details of anticipated evidence have not been laid out publicly in the material provided.)
Five-week trial and practical pressures
The BC Prosecution Service estimates the jury trial will last about five weeks.
De Bourcier has launched a GoFundMe to help with costs linked to the trial and the months that follow, including travel expenses, lost wages and emotional support, and to help Gaudreault maintain stability and care for the children while the case plays out in court.
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