Three British men appeared in court in Canada over the death of a restaurant owner who died a week after he was reportedly punched in an argument over an alleged unpaid bill
Three British men have pleaded guilty to killing a restaurant owner in Canada, following an alleged argument over an unpaid bill.
Father-of-one Sharif Rahman, 44, died after a physical altercation in with a British family in Owen Sound, around 190km north west of Toronto. Robert Evans Jr, 25, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and his dad Robert Busby Evans, 49, and uncle Barry Evans, 56, pleaded guilty to being accessories to the crime.
Rahman was the owner of The Curry House restaurant and died a week after a row broke out after he reportedly confronted three men over an unpaid bill, on August 17, 2023.
The incident allegedly happened in the street outside his restaurant, in a dispute with the three British men over a £79 ($150) bill for a meal. Evans Jr reportedly punched the restaurant owner in the face, which led to the man falling on the pavement and hitting his head, according to CBC.
He was found on the street by a member of staff and Rahman suffered a skull fracture and brain bleed after the fall. He was kept on life support for a week but sadly died in hospital.
British dad Robert Busby Evans and uncle Barry Evans were sentenced to time served plus one day, which was yesterday. The two men are reportedly being processed to be handed over to Canadian border authorities and sent back to the UK.
Ahead of the sentencing, according to Global News, Justice Christopher Chorney said: “The assistance Barry Evans and Robert Evans Sr. gave to their nephew and son, respectively, to escape from the immediate area and then the country is very serious. The fact that they so swiftly left the country reinforces my belief that they were well aware of how serious the offence was even though the victim died a week later.”
The judge added: “The resolution of this case provides certainty and finality to all those involved in the community and avoids further anguish to the victim’s family as a result of the ongoing legal proceedings.” Evans Jr has not been sentenced yet but a submission for a three and a half year sentence has been put forward to the judge, by defence lawyers and authorities. The judge is expected to return his verdict on July 10.
These men, believed to be from Manchester, are believed to have been in Canada at the time of the death on tourist visas and flew back to the UK not long after the incident. Evans Jr and his dad were arrested in Edinburgh by Police Scotland and the uncle was detained in Dalkeith, outside of Scottish capital. They were extradited to Canada from Scotland last year to stand trial, after giving their consent to do so, according to the BBC.
