Former fire captain James Schwalm makes court appearance in death of his wife
A former Brampton, Ont. fire captain charged with murder in the death of his wife appeared in court on Friday.
James Schwalm has been behind bars for 29 days, charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife Ashley in late January inside their Collingwood, Ont. home.
Schwalm and his lawyer Joelle Klein appeared in court seeking disclosure from the Crown to determine what evidence police may have against him.
Investigators discovered the body of Ashley Schwalm early in the morning on Jan. 26 inside her burned SUV, which had crashed down an embankment off Arrowhead Road near Highway 26 in the Blue Mountains.
Court documents show Schwalm is also charged with committing an indignity to a body. Police allege Schwalm murdered his wife sometime between Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 at their Collingwood home, then interfered with and moved her body before burning it in the fiery crash.
The city of Brampton fired Schwalm following his arrest in early February.
Schwalm was initially charged with second-degree murder until that charge was upgraded two weeks later to first-degree murder.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
A First-degree murder conviction comes with a life sentence and no chance of parole for at least 25 years.
The court now prohibits Schwalm from contacting loved ones, including his parents, children and the family of Ashley Schawlm, born Ashley Milnes.
The couple had been married for more than ten years.
The Brampton Professional Fire Fighters have organized a GoFundMe campaign to support the couple's children.
According to organizers, the campaign has raised more than $102,000 since it was launched with the blessing of the Schwalm and Milnes families.
The allegations against James Schwalm have not been tested in court. Both he and his lawyer will return to court later this month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.