Sask. woman not guilty after pushing ex-fiancé down stairs, leaving him quadriplegic

Saskatoon Court of King's Bench is pictured in this file photo. (Chad Hills/CTV Saskatoon)

A Saskatoon woman has been acquitted of aggravated assault after pushing her former fiancé down a flight of stairs, leaving him a quadriplegic.

The incident happened on Oct. 18, 2024, at Dorothy Osmachenko’s home in the Arbour Creek neighbourhood, on the 400 block of Overholt Crescent.

Osmachenko, who was 64 at the time, and Wayne Wilson, 76, had worked together in real estate for years and had previously been engaged.

Osmachenko hosted friends at her house and also invited Wilson.

After her friends left, Osmachenko testified Wilson became aggressive, made vulgar comments and choked her.

Osmachenko testified Wilson had never been violent toward her before.

She told court Wilson choked her with a moderate degree of force, making it difficult to breathe and causing her to fear for her life.

In an effort to protect herself she said she pushed Wilson away with both hands and he fell down a flight of nine steps.

Police arrived before midnight, taking Wilson to hospital and arresting Osmachenko.

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Wilson denied ever assaulting Osmachenko, and testified he has no memory of how he fell.

In the days leading up to the fall, Wilson says he overheard a phone call between Osmachenko and another realtor.

He testified he believed Osmachenko was “flirting” with the man and felt hurt, insulted and slighted.

Both Wilson and Osmachenko agree the conversation sparked the argument that night.

“After considering all of the evidence, I am left with a reasonable doubt,” Justice Martel Popescul ruled Thursday at Court of King’s Bench in Saskatoon.

The judge found the Crown failed to disprove self-defence beyond a reasonable doubt, and acquitted Osmachenko.

In an email to CTV News, defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle said there are no winners in this case.

“A single moment has resulted in life‑altering injuries and profound physical and emotional consequences for everyone involved,” Pfefferle said.

He said the ruling brings a close to a deeply tragic chapter in both their lives.