It was around the same time that Stephan began researching ways to get a divorce from Seble. Just days before killing his wife, Stephan completed an online application in Seble Dietrich’s name to initiate divorce proceedings. He paid for it with his own credit card.

Police found he also made several internet searches regarding where he could buy diethyl ether and chloroform. On ask.com he wrote “Where can I buy Chloroform?”

Stephan’s first language is German, and while a translator was available in the courtroom, he listened to Maguire read out these details in English.

On July 10, the day police believe Seble was murdered, a phone bill arrived at the 55 Vancouver Drive home. That evening Stephan called Bell about the bill and in a recording of the call, he’s heard talking angrily to Seble about the bill and her behaviour. She’s heard responding to him — this is the last time her voice is heard.

A surveillance video shows Stephan going to a bank to pay the bill and then returning home later that evening. Police believe this is when he killed his wife, Maguire said, reading from the agreed statement of facts.

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When police began their investigation into Seble’s disappearance, Stephan told them he didn’t know where she was.

On July 14, Stephan was seen dropping off an envelope at his employer’s house, who was a close friend of Seble. Police say the envelope contained four letters purportedly typed by Seble Dietrich, as well as her wedding ring, her SIM card for her cell phone, her car keys for the red Mercedes and copies of her German passport and her Canadian permanent residency card.

The letters — which were later discovered on Stephan’s computer, originally created in German and then Google translated into English — said she had run off with another man after getting pregnant with his baby.

“I do not know what to say

I’m gone and will not be back

I have committed adultery and I am now pregnant friend from another with which I am for some years”

The signature on the bottom of the letter was found to be a tracing from Seble’s passport, the court heard.

A letter purportedly written by Seble, later found on Stephan's computer

A month after Seble’s disappearance, Stephan’s mistress moved into the home. Maguire said he told his children their mother had left to start a new family and that she no longer loved them.

The day after Stephan was arrested, police performed an extensive search at the Vancouver Drive home. With the help of police dogs, officers located and dug up a recently poured cement pad under a wooden plank in the shed attached to the garage.

This is where Seble’s body was found, curled up in the fetal position, fully clothed, dressed in rubber boots. Also discovered in the clandestine grave was a license plate frame that said “Give Jesus a chance. He died for the opportunity.”

The autopsy report revealed Seble was killed by “blunt impact head trauma.” Maguire said Seble was hit in the head with a shovel and then hit multiple times again when she fell.

After the agreed statement of facts were read into the record, Stephan — standing with arms crossed, his long greyish-brown hair tied back — he confirmed these facts were accurate.

Seble’s sister and her husband were seen in the body of the court, but declined to comment on Thursday.

On Nov. 22 at 11 a.m., Stephan is to return to the superior courthouse for sentencing and to hear victim impact statements. Members of Seble’s family, including her mother from Ethiopia and her sister from the United States, are expected to attend.

Before agreeing to plead guilty to second degree murder, Justice Bruce Durno said Stephan could be sentenced to life in prison, without the chance of parole for 19 years. He also said because Stephan was not a Canadian citizen he would most likely be deported back to Germany.

Days after his arrest, Stephan Dietrich wrote a letter to his children, apologizing "for what happened". He writes that he loves them and encourages them to make something out of their life. Nowhere in the letter does he express regret for what he did. The closest he gets is when he wrote he "didn't want to reach this point."

"Don't let anything get you down from those out there, be strong and use your head. Nobody helps you, you have to make it on your own, the world is shitty, but you can make it, you are very special and strong!"

Stephan didn't speak much during the hearing. The most he said came after Justice Durno asked if he truly understood all that he was pleading to.

"Yes. It was very clear," he said.