Scottish men accused in Owen Sound restaurateur's death address Ontario court after extradition
CBC
Three Scottish men accused in the 2023 killing of Ontario restaurant owner Sharif Rahman after a dispute over an unpaid bill appeared in an Owen Sound court Friday morning after their extradition to Canada.
Robert Evans, 25, faces a manslaughter charge; his father, Robert Busby Evans, 47, and his uncle, Barry Evans, 54, are charged with being accessories after the fact.
The men — each spoke in Superior Court during the hearing — will be held in jail as their cases work their way through the court system. There are separate lawyers for each man, and one of the three intends to apply for legal aid, court was told.
Rahman, 44, died in August 2023 in a London, Ont., hospital after being punched outside his restaurant, The Curry House, in Owen Sound while confronting customers who were skipping out on a bill, police have said.
Officers from Owen Sound police and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) escorted the three men from the United Kingdom to Canada on Thursday, police say.
Crown prosecutors asked for a publication ban on any evidence heard at the men's bail hearings and listed 11 people connected to the case that each man is not allowed to contact.
The men appeared one by one in Owen Sound court. Their lawyers appeared via Zoom link.
"We are aware of the impact this investigation has had on the victim's family and the local community. We are also deeply grateful to everyone who came forward with information to assist police during the investigation," police officials wrote earlier in a statement.
Rahman was a popular restaurant owner who was involved in business and social causes in Owen Sound. His death shocked the tight-knit community. He left behind a wife and young daughter.
Police allege that Robert Evans Jr. threw the punch that felled Rahman.
Wearing a black T-shirt and black pants at his court appearance, he said he didn't need his charges read out to him.
"I know what I'm charged with," he told the court. His next court appearance is Dec. 15.
Barry Evans faces an accessory-after-the-fact charge for reportedly instructing Evans Jr. to "run," then driving him to Collingwood, an hour away.
A short, stocky man, he appeared in court wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans, and also indicated he knew the charge against him. He will return to court Jan. 12.
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