Petition gains support as MP and family condemn killer’s sentence

After a judge sentenced Tyler Newton to seven years for killing Caesar Rosales, many people have spoken out against his “light” sentence.

In October 2014, Newton stabbed Rosales on a Kelowna city bus, killing the 55-year-old man within minutes.

Because Newton was under the influence of drugs at the time, and in a psychosis—according to a psychiatrist, his charge was downgraded from second-degree murder to manslaughter by Judge Heather Holmes.

Manslaughter sentences can cover anything from near accident to near murder, both the defense and Crown counsel said, and sentences can run up to life in prison.

Newton, though, has already served over 600 days in prison, and will receive credit for time and a half, leaving him with another four and a half years to serve.

For taking his brother’s life, Darwin Rosales said this isn’t nearly enough.

“How much time and effort does it take to make a life like that of my brother? To land a job like what he was doing?” said Darwin. “On the contrary, the killer's life is worth nothing. In fact, he's a menace to society and yet the judge ruled overwhelmingly in his favour.

“I will stop short of saying she's seeing colours, notwithstanding most likely the killer did so, too. If that's the case, might as well make it a national policy, so people need to be warned before they leave their countries.”

Caesar Rosales lived most of his life in the Philippines before immigrating to Canada in 2001. He moved from Richmond to Kelowna for work. He was bussing home from his job at Kelowna Flightcraft when he was killed.

Conservative MP Dan Albas condemned the sentence, saying he’s been contacted many times by people concerned that Newton will be walking the streets in less than five years.

“For the family of the victim, Caesar Rosales, this sentence is a slap in the face and an injustice to the memory of a loved one,” said Albas, who has encouraged citizens to speak up to government and lawmakers to get the sentence appealed.

Just one day later, many people already have.

An online petition has already garnered almost 600 signatures, with hopes of reaching 1,000.

Kelowna resident Marina Neville signed the petition after a similar personal experience. Two years since the body of her sister Theresa Ashley Neville was discovered in her Glenmore-area home, police still haven't made any arrests.

“The justice system in this country is a joke,” she said on the page. “Murderers are given a slap on the wrist for taking people’s lives.This coming from a person whose sister was murdered, and I am experiencing this failing system first hand. Many letters have been written by my family and others and our MLAs are not listening.

“Suzanne Anton and Christy Clark, you work for the people, maybe you should start listening to them.”

Neville and others who have signed are calling on legislation to be changed.

The creator of the petition plans to deliver it to decision makers including Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton, North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold, South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings and Albas.