Jury hears death of Calgary mother Jessica Newman was ‘crime of passion’

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Calgary mother Jessica Newman died in a “crime of passion” jurors heard in the Crown’s opening statement on Monday.

The proceedings began with Kevin Rubletz, 33, pleading not guilty to the second-degree murder of Newman.

Newman was Rubletz’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child. She disappeared in March 2015.

Crown Prosecutor Shane Parker told the jury the case was a classic “whodunit.”

Parker explained Newman’s footprint of life abruptly ended March 10, 2015. The 24-year-old was never seen or heard from again.

The Crown said Rubletz told police he had picked her up from her work at a southeast Calgary restaurant, but dropped her off at her home.

Court heard the two were in the midst of a custody battle and an important hearing was scheduled to happen the following day.

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It was nearly two months later that Newman’s body was found in a ditch northeast of Calgary.

An autopsy revealed she was stabbed 75 times. Her body was partially clothed.

Parker told jurors Newman was killed “while she was intimate and vulnerable.”

“This was a spontaneous but intentional murder,” Parker said.

He said an examination of Newman’s phone showed there was “romance, sex and love” between the accused and Newman in the months leading up to her death.

The Crown told the six male and six female jurors they will hear forensic evidence over the course of the three-week trial, including DNA evidence.

Parker said Newman’s DNA was found in Rubletz’s van, which had been taken to an auto wrecker.

He said a search of the van showed “a botched cleanup,” that included areas of the front driver and passenger seats cut out.

Jurors heard Newman’s DNA was found in the van.

Rubletz was arrested June 26, 2015. He’s been in custody ever since.