Robert Evans Jr. Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Owen Sound
Robert Evans Jr. pleaded guilty to manslaughter in owen sound on Friday in the death of Sharif Rahman, moving the case toward sentencing after years of court proceedings. The Ontario Court of Justice will return to the case on July 10, when Evans is scheduled to be sentenced.
Evans, 25, also known as Michael Jones, of Darwen Lancashire, England, admitted he punched Rahman once in the face outside The Curry House on Aug. 17, 2023. The blow sent Rahman backward onto the sidewalk, where he struck his head and suffered a fractured skull and brain bleed.
Chorney Sets July 10
Justice Christopher Chorney said he wanted time to prepare his decision to make sure he delivers the right message to Evans and to the community at large. He also indicated the sentence would follow a joint submission involving all three men brought to Canada from Scotland to face charges in Rahman’s death almost three years ago.
Patrick Clement, the Grey County Crown attorney, called the case a “true one punch manslaughter.” He said the plea deal reflected triable issues of self-defence for Evans, along with the dine and dash crime and the fact that the men fled instead of stopping to help Rahman.
Rahman and The Curry House
Rahman, a 44-year-old husband, father and community-minded citizen, owned The Curry House in downtown Owen Sound. He died on Aug. 24, 2023, after spending a week on life-support in a London, Ont. hospital, following the assault outside his restaurant.
The case drew marches, a vigil and people standing along parts of the funeral procession route, reflecting the grief that followed his death in the community. Friday’s plea resolves one major part of the case against Evans, but the sentence must still fit within the 42-month term discussed in court.
Busby Evans and Barry Evans
Justice Chorney accepted the sentence recommended by Crown and defence lawyers for Robert Busby Evans and Barry Evans on Friday. Robert Busby Evans, 49, also known as Justin Jones, and Barry Evans, 55, both pleaded guilty to being accessories after the fact in the Aug. 17, 2023 confrontation and received the equivalent of 21 months time served plus one day, deemed served.
The Crown said Evans Jr. would have eight months remaining on a 42-month sentence, after 34 months of presentence custody credited at time-and-a-half in Scotland and Canada. That leaves July 10 as the date when the court is set to decide the final penalty for the man who admitted the punch that started the chain of events.
