Inquiry hears killer of Calgary caseworker had difficult transition from youth to adult – Calgary [Video]

A fatality inquiry into the stabbing death of a Calgary caseworker five years ago has heard that the killer was absent from his assisted-living facility for weeks at a time before the attack happened.

Brandon Newman pleaded guilty in 2021 to second-degree murder for stabbing Deborah Onwu 19 times in 2019.

He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 14 years.

Onwu was working with Newman at Wood’s Homes Assisted Living Residence in southwest Calgary — a mental health centre.

Fatality inquiries are legal proceedings before a court of justice that clarify the circumstances of a death and may provide insight and recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

Daina Havens, a program manager for Wood’s Homes, told the inquiry that Newman was originally assigned a team of seven staff and two people would be with him at all times. She described him as “a really nice young man” but mentally very young.

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