'James deceived us,' Slain Collingwood, Ont. woman's family speak ahead of husband's sentencing

Victim's family speaks at husband's sentencing Ashley Milnes' family speaks at the sentencing hearing for her husband, James Schwalm, ahead of his sentencing.

James Schwalm sat in the prisoner’s box Monday morning weeping as friends and family members told the court about the devastation he caused when he murdered his wife, Ashley Milnes, two years ago inside their Collingwood, Ont. home.

Schwalm pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in June to taking Milnes' life, then placing her body inside her car and setting it on fire to make it appear as if she’d crashed down an embankment in a snowstorm.

“No amount of justice will ever be enough for the monstrous act he has committed” said Milnes' sister in one of 21 impact statements provided to the court.

Milnes’ father addressed the court noting Schwalm murdered his daughter without regard for her, their two young children, or family, saying, “This selfish act only benefited you, Jamie,” adding, “This was perpetrated by a smart man, a leader, a first responder.”

The grieving man described Schwalm as “a pure narcissist,” saying his daughter’s death in such a violent and sudden manner has devastated all those who knew and loved her.

Friends called Milnes an amazing mother, full of love and happiness.

A friend family asked, “How on earth could he do this to his own children?,” while the slain woman's sister said she couldn’t stop wondering what he was thinking.

“James deceived us,” she told the court, describing how Schwalm moved into her family’s home and “sat there broken and grieving while we consoled him, even though he knew what he’d done.”

The court heard Schwalm, a former Brampton fire captain, killed his wife on the night of January 26, 2023, by strangulation then through an elaborate series of events loaded her remains into her vehicle and drove it down an embankment on Arrowhead Road. The court heard he used a lighter with his initials on it to torch the remains.

Schwalm was arrested a week later and fired by the fire department.

Police initially charged him with first-degree murder and committing an indignity to a dead body.

Crown Attorney Lynne Saunders called the case against Schwalm “overwhelming,” noting he was “inescapably caught.”

Saunders told the court his initial instinct was to run and hide and “play the role” of a grieving husband.

Married to Milnes for 11 years, the Crown said Schwalm abused his trust by murdering his wife after an argument for which she wanted to call police.

“He was the one person in the world she was supposed to feel physically safe with,” adding, “Ashley trusted she was safe in her home.”

The court previously heard of infidelity in the relationship and a troubled marriage. The Crown told the court Schwalm was more concerned with losing money, his home and social status.

“This was very much a financial decision for Mr. Schwalm,” the Crown told the court.

“His choice was to scheme for days, at least, about how to kill the mother of his children and not get caught,” Saunders said, concluding, “He resolved to do what would make him happy.”

Schwalm was given the opportunity to address those in the courtroom, and admitted feeling shame.

“I despise my actions and am haunted,” he said. “This is where I need to be. Where I deserve to be because of my terrible awful actions.”

His defence is seeking the non-communicate order with the couple’s two children end when they turn 16, while the Crown wants it pushed until they turn 18.

He has undergone parenting, intimate partner violence and grief counselling, along with other training sessions, while in jail.

Additionally, the defence wants him to be eligible for parole in 13 to 14 years. The Crown seeks a longer term of 21 to 22 years before he becomes eligible.

Justice Michelle Fuerst is scheduled to sentence Schwalm in February.