Forensic officer, RCMP testify in Melfort murder trial of ex-partner

Chubey, charged with killing Dobersheck, was her ex-partner at the time.

Samoila testified that she arrived in Melfort to process the suspect at the Melfort RCMP detachment that morning. She said her job entails photographing the suspect and the crime scene, swabbing the suspect, and seizing the suspect’s clothes.

The corporal went through a detailed account of the pictures taken of Chubey at the detachment, noting various cuts and abrasions on his knuckles, fingers, upper arms, knees, shin, and foot. She testified he was found with dried blood on his ankle area.

After she was finished at the detachment, Samoila arrived at the crime scene – a room at the Carra Valla Inn on Saskatchewan Dr. The police officer went through the evidence pictures she took in detail during her testimony, including an account of the significant amount of blood at the scene.

She called the room ‘a small area with a lot of blood.’

There were bloodstains and hair found on a lamp that had been broken in the room, and blood and hair found on the bottom of a snow shovel located in the bathroom, between the sink and tub. A tooth was also located on the floor.

Dobersheck’s body was discovered in the tub, and Cpl. Samoila noted bruising on her right hand.

The corporal also began to tear up when noting a significant cut on Dobersheck’s ear in one of the pictures.

The following day, Samoila returned to the crime scene to assist an RCMP bloodstain analyst and take more pictures.

Dobersheck’s mother and other family members left the courtroom briefly after hearing that when Dobersheck’s body was removed from the scene, three more of her teeth were found in bathtub.

During Samoila’s testimony, the defendant largely slumped forward and looked towards the ground.

Constable Martin Benzel, one of the other RCMP officers who was first on scene, also testified Monday.

He was notified about a potential domestic dispute call when his shift first started around 8 a.m. He attended the scene with Cst. Elliott Boissonneau.

Benzel said he could see through some curtains into the hotel room and saw a shirtless man whom he asked to open the door. Chubey answered and said he and his girlfriend got into a fight. Benzel showed emotion when describing the bloody crime scene. He said Chubey was cooperative when Boissonneau handcuffed him and put him in the police vehicle.

According to Benzel, Dobersheck had extensive injuries to her face. He said she was still warm to the touch but had no pulse and was not breathing. EMS was then called.

When Boissonneau took the stand, he outlined the process of taking Chubey to the detachment. While the RCMP officers were not wearing body cameras in 2024, court did see footage from the patrol vehicle and the back seat where Chubey was detained. He had his rights read to him and said he would get his own lawyer. Chubey did not look at the video footage presented in the courtroom, instead looking straight ahead or toward the floor.

Boissonneau noted a slight odour of alcohol from Chubey and a possible slurring of words at the time of his arrest. There was an empty bottle of vodka in the hotel room, along with a partially drunk 15-pack of beer and another empty can of hard cider. Boissonneau testified that Chubey did not stagger or stumble during his arrest or transfer to the detachment. Earlier, Benzel indicated Chubey was energetic at the crime scene, wondering if he was under the influence of a drug, while Samoila didn’t note any suspicion of impairment.

Crown prosecutor Jennifer Souter is expected to call a pair of civilian witnesses and an RCMP constable to the stand on Tuesday. A video from one of Dobersheck’s children is expected on Wednesday.

Defence lawyer Peter Abrametz said Monday he requires an adjournment on Thursday to deal with evidence concerning his client’s mental state at the time of the offence.

While Monday’s trial began, a group gathered outside the courthouse and held a march for justice for Dobersheck.

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*For those experiencing domestic violence, help is available by calling The North East Outreach & Support Services at 306-752-9455 or by calling 911 in an emergency.

cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

by Cam Lee

Forensic officer, RCMP testify in Melfort murder trial of ex-partner

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