A former Ontario fire captain who murdered his wife and left his body inside a burning SUV was sentenced to life prison without any chance of parole for 20 years.
James Schwalm, a 40 -year -old Collingwood resident who served with Brampton Fire, received his sentence by the Supreme Court Michelle Fuerst in a barrie courtroom on Monday. Schwalm pleaded guilty to The second degree murder From his wife, Ashley Schwalm, 40, last June.
Ashley’s body was found inside a burning SUV who had left a road to Collingwood on January 26, 2023. According to a declaration of facts contained (ASF) court When Schwalm pleaded guilty, his body was found burned beyond recognition.
An autopsy found that she was not alive at the time of the fire and died of a physical trauma around a strangulation. The police later alleged that Schwalm had murdered her and organized his death.
“His actions on the morning of January 26, 2023, … were completely disagreement as a firefighter to save lives, not to take them,” said FUERST on Monday.
“The murder of Ashley Schwalm was an act of blatant selfishness; It was cold, callous and in many ways, calculated. »»
The ASF has shown that the Collingwood couple – married for more than 10 years with two children at the time of the murder – separated. In 2022 Schwalm learned that his wife had a liaison with his boss, and the couple tried to repair their marriage by going to Counseling.
Schwalm then began to maintain a relationship with the ex-wife of the boss of Ashley. Ten days before the murder, he told her that he had romantic feelings for her, which, she said, was mutual. Only five days before the murder, Schwalm told him that he had made a decision that he was going to make what would make him happy.
The court learned that for two weeks before the murder, Schwalm evaluated the financial implications of the divorce. He also research on the Internet on alimony, car fires and if research stories are recorded even when deleted. Ashley had an $ 1 million life insurance policy; Her husband was the only beneficiary.
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At night before the discovery of their body, the couple fought while their children, six and nine, were sleeping. The couple’s son said he woke up to hear his parents arguing. Her mother asked the boy to get her mobile phone so that she could call the police. Schwalm told him to return to his room.
Later around 3 a.m., the boy opened his door and saw his father cry. He saw his father put his coat and said he was doing the dog for a walk. Later, he noticed that the dog was still in the veranda.
James Schwalm was accused of first degree murder in February 2023 the death of his wife Ashley Schwalm.
With the kind authorization of the Brampton X fire service
Two days after the discovery of his body, Schwalm told the police that he thought it was nothing more than a tragic accident and was cooperative with the investigators. He said that his wife went to hike early in the morning and that she had not returned home. Schwalm underlined the SMS between him and Ashley and had an alibi, saying that he had made a walk the dog just before his departure.
In court, he admitted to having led the remains of his wife to the neighboring Alpine Ski Club, having dipped it with petrol, leading the vehicle on a embankment and lighting the car on fire.
The second degree murder, of which Schwalm pleaded guilty, is sentenced to compulsory life. The problem with which the judge had been confronted was the period of ineligibility for parole between 10 and 25 years.
In his submissions of condemnationThe crown lawyer, Lynne Saunders, suggested that a period of ineligibility for parole from 21 to 22 years would be appropriate. Saunders also suggested that Schwalm should not have contact with his children until the age of 18.
While Schwalm has no previous criminal record, Saunders called the circumstances of the flagrant case, a horrible violation of confidence and one which included research, planning and execution. Saunders said it was also necessary to win there among the mourning while acting like a widower struck with sorrow.
“He used his training as a firefighter as a tool to hide the responsibility of his murder,” said Saunders.
“This is a surprisingly heartless performance trying to divert suspicion of himself, allowing him to play the role of the bereaved husband.”
Defense lawyer, Joelle Klein, said that a more appropriate period of ineligibility for parole is 13 to 14 years, saying that Schwalm had taken responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty and saving the family of a trial.
Klein also said that Schwalm should be allowed to have contact with his children at the age of 16.
Fuerst finally judged that Schwalm has no contact with his children until the age of 18.
Schwalm addressed the court in November.
“I never thought I saw myself capable of these horrible actions. I despise my actions and I am haunted, they continue to hurt the people I love and that I take care of the most, “he said.
“This path is not the one I thought I could take, but that’s where I shamefully and unfortunately put the others. This is where I need and deserves to be because of my terrible terrible actions. »»
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