Ashley Schwamm

The family feared Ashley's son would have to tell that story on the stand.

Then things took a dramatic turn.

You get some news out of the blue that James Schwamm wants to talk.

James had been sitting in jail for more than a year.

Now he was asking for a deal.

The prosecutor reaches out to you with some big news.

So they took it to you?

The family was willing to consider it to spare the children.

James had been charged with first-degree murder.

In Canada, that means he was facing life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years.

Now he was hoping for a lighter sentence.

One of the big concerns with second degree is, you know, he could be eligible for parole as early as 10 years.

It's crazy.

Potentially.

You're at the mercy of the judge.

But Ashley's family felt confident because of the callousness and planning that went into this murder.

The prosecution could convince a judge James deserved the harshest sentence possible.

So the family agreed to the deal.

In June 2024, a year and a half after James murdered his wife, Ashley, he was led into a courtroom ready to admit what he had done.

Mike Arcelides covered the hearing.