Kelowna bus stabber pleads guilty to manslaughter

KELOWNA – Tyler Jack Newton admitted in court he stabbed Caesar Rosales to death on a Kelowna city bus in 2014.

Appearing clean-shaven wearing a black T-shirt and red prison pants, Newton, 26, pleaded not guilty to second degree murder but guilty to manslaughter in Kelowna Supreme Court today, June 22. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Rosales was a 55-year-old beloved member of the community when his life was taken during an evening commute from his job at KF Aerospace on Oct. 30, 2014.

Other passengers saw Newton, who has been in custody since his arrest the day after the murder, brutally stab Rosales in the neck before fleeing down Baron Road around 6:30 p.m.

The day after the incident, police announced they had a suspect and hours later Newton was arrested 

He has an extensive criminal history going back to 2008, when he was charged with break and enter and theft over $5,000. He has appeared in court nearly every year since then on charges ranging from possession of stolen property and drugs to theft of a motor vehicle.

In the courtroom for sentencing submissions Wednesday were Rosales' brother, who flew in from the Philippines, as well as members of Newton's family.

— This story was updated at 2:20 p.m., June 22, 2016, to add video.

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