Three British men have admitted to the killing of a restaurant owner in Canada following an alleged dispute over an unpaid bill. Sharif Rahman, a 44-year-old father, passed away after a physical altercation with a British family in Owen Sound, located approximately 190km northwest of Toronto. Robert Evans Jr, 25, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, while his father, Robert Busby Evans, 49, and uncle, Barry Evans, 56, pleaded guilty to being accessories to the crime.
Rahman, the proprietor of The Curry House restaurant, succumbed to his injuries a week after an altercation erupted when he confronted three men over an outstanding bill on August 17, 2023. The altercation reportedly took place outside his restaurant, where a disagreement with the British men over a £79 ($150) bill for a meal escalated. Evans Jr allegedly struck Rahman in the face, causing him to fall to the pavement and sustain a fatal head injury.
Discovered on the street by a staff member, Rahman suffered a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage from the fall. Despite being on life support for a week, he tragically passed away in the hospital.
Robert Busby Evans and Barry Evans were sentenced to time served plus one day, with their return to the UK imminent after being processed for handover to Canadian authorities. Prior to sentencing, Justice Christopher Chorney expressed concern over the swift departure of the two men from the country following the incident, emphasizing the seriousness of their actions.
Evans Jr awaits sentencing, with a proposed three and a half year term under consideration. The judge is expected to deliver the verdict on July 10.
Hailing from Manchester, the men were believed to have been in Canada on tourist visas during the incident and subsequently returned to the UK. They were arrested in Scotland and extradited to Canada to face trial after consenting to the extradition process.