Man found guilty of deliberately running over wife

Judge rules death on residential street in Bowness last year was murder

Calgarian Ronald Candaele looked at his mother in the courtroom gallery and shook his head “no” Wednesday as a judge found him guilty of murder in the traffic death of his newlywed wife.

Justice Blair Nixon found Candaele intentionally ran over Melissa Rae Blommaert with a fully loaded U-haul van before fleeing the scene of the incident without offering his victim help.

Nixon rejected suggestions by defence lawyer Kim Ross that it was possible Candaele accidentally ran over his wife and was unaware she was injured.

The judge noted that after rolling over his wife in the middle of a Bowness residential street, Candaele turned around and passed his then-dying wife.

“He returned to and bypassed the scene and did not offer help,” Nixon said.

CCTV video from homes in the area captured Blommaert exiting the U-haul on 34th Avenue near 80th Street N.W., first walking and then running away down the middle of the street shortly after 4 a.m. on Feb. 10, 2020.

Nixon found the evidence established Candaele then got into the driver's seat and chased after her.

“I find that the Crown has proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the deceased did not die by accident,” Nixon said.

“She was driven over by the accused … and he did not stop to assist her in a time of critical need.”

Several residents in the area said they heard some yelling around the time of the incident.

“There is evidence that the accused yelled at the deceased while they were situated at the 34 Avenue scene,” the judge said.

“There was some degree of rage in the comments.”

Nixon also noted “the engine of the U-haul was heard to be revving.”

He said that although Blommaert was dressed in a dark coat, she would have been easily visible in the contrasting snow and under both street lights and the headlights of the U-haul.

Nixon said the evidence established Candaele deliberately struck Blommaert while she was fleeing.

“Having found the accused deliberately ran over the deceased, I infer he intended to cause … serious bodily harm knowing that it was likely to cause death,” he said, in determining Candaele had the necessary intent for a finding of second-degree murder.

Ross said he will have to consult with his client to determine if he wished to get a Gladue report into his Indigenous background ahead of a sentencing hearing.

Crown prosecutor Hyatt Mograbee said she will have to review Nixon's findings of fact in his 60page written decision before determining what parole ineligibility she will seek.

Candaele, who remains in custody, will be handed an automatic life sentence with parole ineligibility set at between 10 and 25 years.

A date for sentencing will be set on July 23.

She was driven over by the accused … and he did not stop to assist her in a time of critical need.