Kalen Schlatter, the 23-year-old Toronto man accused of the first degree murder of Tess Richey spent parts of the last two days on the stand in his own defence.
Asked by Crown attorney Bev Richards if Richey was dead when he left her early on November 25, 2017, Schlatter responded he “did not kill Tess Richey.”
The Crown maintains Schlatter killed Richey out of frustration after she refused his sexual advances.
In a Toronto courtroom, under questioning by his lawyer on Monday, Schlatter denied killing or sexually assaulting the 22-year-old Richey. “Absolutely not,” said Schlatter.
Richey’s lifeless body was found at the bottom of an outdoor stairwell at a home under renovation in the Village area of Toronto days after Richey and a friend were with Schlatter in the area near the Crews & Tangos bar.
Richey’s body was discovered by her mother and a family friend, who had travelled to Toronto to search for Tess after she was reported missing by her sister. Richey had gone out dancing with a friend from her former home in North Bay but the two later parted ways.
The Crown has presented several pieces of video footage tracing the movements of Richey and Schlatter in and around the nightclub, at a hot dog stand on a nearby street, and at the home near Church and Dundonald streets leading to the stairwell where Richey was later found. Video footage also shows Schlatter leaving the area alone after disappearing from view with Richey.
Schlatter testified Richey was alive when he left her in the stairwell and he only learned of her death through media reports nearly two weeks after his encounter with Richey. Schlatter wept while giving his testimony.
Under cross-examination by Richards, Schlatter gave details of his movements after leaving the area where Richey was later found dead. He claimed he was going to walk home but ended up taking a cab instead.
Richards again questioned Schlatter’s honesty, suggesting he did not take an Uber because he knew police could later trace the transaction. Schlatter denied this, saying he just started walking home.
Tuesday morning, Richards questioned whether Schlatter is a habitual liar, pointing out lies he told two undercover police officers planted in his cell. “You lie to friends. You lie to strangers,” she suggested, to which Schlatter responded, “Only sometimes.”