The man accused of killing his ex-wife in 2024 near Lumby, B.C., told Kamloops’ B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday that she stabbed herself and he did “everything he could” to save her.

Vitali Stefanski has pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder of his ex-wife, 44-year-old Tatjana Stefanski.

The jury heard Vitali deny killing Tatjana when he first testified on Tuesday. Police said earlier in the trial Vitali confessed to killing Tatjana after RCMP located him alone and barefoot near a forest service road outside of Lumby on April 14, 2024, near where Tatjana’s body was found.

Security footage from a property neighbouring Tatjana’s showed the two getting in Vitali’s car the day before.

He agreed that his ex-wife was already bleeding profusely before they left the driveway of her home. But he said he did not call 911 or drive toward the Vernon hospital, and instead headed toward Lumby.

Vitali told the jury Wednesday he saw Tatjana stab herself twice while in his car. But he had little explanation for the seven stab wounds found on Tatjana’s chest.

“The first one, I would say [was a] stab wound, and the second one, I would not call it a stab wound. It was a kind of injury,” he said.

The court has heard that Tatjana’s heart and a lung were pierced by the wounds to her chest. She also suffered 21 “sharp-force injuries” to her arms and legs. Vitali has offered no explanation for most of her injuries.

Crown prosecutor Laura Drake asked Vitali why he didn’t call 911, pull in to the Lumby RCMP station or flag down a passing vehicle while she was injured in his car.

“In that moment, I was looking for the hospital. I know after, now, I have so many ideas, but at that time I was really in shock,” Vitali said, adding he was drenched in sweat and panicked while looking for a hospital.

He said he was “hoping she was still alive” while being questioned by police.

Accused tried to drown himself night of ex-wife’s death

Vitali agreed with Crown that he attempted to kill himself twice following Tatjana’s death.

Stopping on Mabel Lake Road outside of Lumby, he said that at some point he removed Tatjana’s body from the back seat, but when he attempted to put her body back in the car, it “slipped” down the embankment.

Vitali testified he sought help from nearby cabins, but nobody was home. He then attempted to drown himself in nearby Mabel Lake, and later stabbed himself before losing consciousness.

The trial began May 25, and Crown and defence are expected to deliver their closing arguments Monday.