‘Overwhelming’ evidence seals killer’s fate, judge rules

Ethan Gladu argued someone else fatally stabbed Ukrainian immigrant Ivan Rubanik as he was walking to work, but a wealth of video surveillance clearly established he was the killer, a judge has ruled.

Security video gathered from city transit buses and multiple residences captured Gladu’s movements before, during and after the killing in Elmwood on Dec. 8, 2023.

The identification evidence against Gladu — including clear pictures of him looking straight into a security camera and eyewitness testimony — was “overwhelming,” said Court of King’s Bench Justice Ken Champagne, who convicted Gladu after a trial earlier this month of one count of manslaughter.

“Gladu does not admit or concede he is the person responsible for stabbing Mr. Rubanik, but (defence) counsel did not advance any serious argument that he was not responsible, which is understandable in these circumstances,” Champagne said.

Rubanik, 46, was a father of two who had fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine and moved to Winnipeg with his family eight months before he was killed.

Gladu, then 19, got off a bus at 7:47 a.m. at the corner of Talbot Avenue and Watt Street and walked across the street toward Rubanik, who was on his way to work.

After what Champagne said appeared to be a “brief interaction” between the two men, Rubanik continued walking south along Talbot Avenue as Gladu trailed behind him.

Gladu quickly caught up to Rubanik and, after walking side-by-side for a few seconds, suddenly stabbed him in the right shoulder.

Rubanik ran across the street and down the sidewalk a short distance before falling to his knees and collapsing as he suffered “immediate and significant blood loss,” Champagne said.

The 12-centimetre-deep stab wound severed a major artery and vein and punctured Rubanik’s lung.

“Without immediate surgery to repair the damage, there was no hope of survival,” the judge said.

Gladu ran across Talbot Street to an apartment building where he went to two suites and interacted with several people before leaving two hours later and making his way to the Salvation Army shelter on Henry Avenue. Police arrested him at the shelter the following day. He was wearing the same jacket he had on when he stabbed Rubanik.

Transit security video recorded minutes prior to the stabbing captured Gladu threatening to stab a passenger and a bus driver before being ordered off the bus.

“The video depicts an agitated, erratic individual,” Champagne said.

Gladu stood trial for second-degree murder, but was convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter after Champagne said he was not satisfied Gladu intended to kill Rubanik.

Champagne said there was no evidence Gladu stabbed Rubanik with great force.

“The stabbing took place in a split second or less and it is impossible to see the movement of the accused’s arm,” Champagne said, noting the impact of the stab did not cause Rubanik to stumble or lose his balance.

Gladu will be sentenced at a later date following the completion of a court-ordered pre-sentence report. He remains in custody.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca