Oshawa — Jurors heard a frantic 911 call and a series of disturbing text exchanges Friday as the Crown opened its case in the second-degree murder trial of a 37-year-old Ajax man charged in the death of his girlfriend.
Key evidence played in court
The 911 call, placed from Kyle Severin’s phone on the night of March 30, 2024, was played for jurors in an Oshawa courtroom. In the recording, a male voice, described by court officials as sounding frantic, gives the address 14 Hillman Dr. and says his girlfriend is dead in the bedroom. The caller tells the call-taker there were “a bunch of guys” in the house, that he fought them off and that there was blood everywhere.
“She got sliced up.”
Crown counsel said those words were the caller’s answer when asked how the woman died. When officers arrived at the basement apartment, the jury heard that Severin emerged from his bedroom with blood on his hands and feet and was immediately arrested. The victim, identified in court as Jennifer Polak, was found behind a bedroom door.
Text messages presented as context
Assistant Crown attorney Julie O’Connor told jurors that jurors would be shown a string of text messages between Severin and Polak dating back to February 2023. Those messages, read in court, contain repeated accusations by Severin that Polak was unfaithful, alongside degrading language aimed at her. Polak’s replies, in the records shown to the jury, include expressions of love, concern about Severin’s drinking and requests that he stop harassing her.
- 911 call placed from Severin’s phone at 14 Hillman Dr. on March 30, 2024
- Severin found with blood on his hands and feet when officers arrived
- Polak, a mother of two who worked at a daycare in Ajax, was discovered behind a bedroom door
- Text exchanges from February 2023 showing discord and accusations of infidelity
Severin, who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, is accused of killing Polak in the basement apartment where she frequently visited. O’Connor told the jury the couple had been in a relationship for several years and that Polak would often visit Severin at the Hillman Drive address.
What was outlined to jurors
The Crown’s opening submissions framed the 911 call and the text-message history as central pieces of evidence. Defence arguments have not been detailed in open court reports from Friday; the trial will determine whether the Crown can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Severin caused Polak’s death.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Accused | Kyle Severin, 37, pleaded not guilty |
| Victim | Jennifer Polak, mother of two, worked at an Ajax daycare |
| Date | 911 call on March 30, 2024 |
| Location | Basement apartment, 14 Hillman Dr., Ajax |
The content of the text messages, some of which were shown in court, portrays a relationship with recurring conflict. In one exchange printed in court, Polak replies to an accusation with, “Can’t wait until you read all of these while you’re sober.” Severin responds: “Threaten me ever again, I’ll leave you in the f—in dust.” Polak replies, “No one threatened you,” according to court reporting.
The trial continues in Oshawa; jurors will hear further testimony and evidence as the Crown pursues a conviction for second-degree murder. Local residents who knew the victim or who live in the Hillman Drive area have been following the proceedings closely.
For Ajax, the case underscores tensions about safety and domestic violence that communities across the region confront. The court record as presented so far sets out a sequence of alarming events that now must be weighed by jurors within the framework of criminal law.
