A British man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of restaurant owner Sharif Rahman nearly three years ago is expected to be sentenced today in Owen Sound, Ont.
The hearing for Robert Evans Jr. is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET in the Ontario Court of Justice in Owen Sound.
CBC News will provide updates throughout the proceedings.
Last month, Evans Jr. entered his plea and apologized to Rahman’s family, in a case that has drawn widespread attention since the fatal confrontation outside The Curry House on Aug. 17, 2023. His dad and uncle were previously sentenced in the case.
Man who killed Ontario restaurant owner apologizes to family, city after pleading guilty to manslaughter
Rahman, 44, had confronted a group of people after they allegedly left the downtown restaurant without paying their bill. Rahman fell, struck his head on the pavement and died a week later in a London hospital.
On June 5, Evans Jr. stood in court and delivered his apology, saying he knew Rahman was a good family man who was respected in the community.
“This never should have happened. I didn’t mean for him to die. … I’m sickened by the damage that I’ve caused,” he said.
As part of the guilty plea, the Crown withdrew a charge of aggravated assault against Evans Jr.
Evans Jr. was charged with manslaughter in 2024 after Canadian investigators identified him as the suspect. He was arrested in Scotland months after Rahman’s death and later extradited to Canada to face trial.
His father, Robert Busby Evans, and uncle, Barry Evans, pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact for helping Evans Jr. leave Canada after the assault on Rahman. The two were sentenced to 21 months, and with time served, are being deported.
During the resolution hearing in June, the Crown and defence presented a joint submission on sentence for Evans Jr. of 42 months. Under Canadian law, judges generally accept joint sentencing recommendations unless doing so would bring the administration of justice into disrepute or otherwise be contrary to the public interest.
Today’s hearing will determine whether Justice Christopher Chorney accepts that joint submission and formally sentences Evans Jr.
