Assault charge upgraded to manslaughter
A charge against a Saskatoon man has been upgraded to manslaughter in connection with the beating death in Manitoba of a 25-year-old father from Saskatoon.
Justin Leslie Bird, 29, of Saskatoon is now charged with manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance. Police in the southwestern Manitoba community of Winkler said 25-year-old Zachary Straughan died after a fight erupted just before midnight on Saturday at the Valley Bowling Lanes. Winkler police said an argument between two men “well known to each other turned violent” over a “small unpaid bill.”
Ashley Hague said her boyfriend — the father of their baby, due early next year — was killed over a $16 bar tab.
Straughan also had three other children.
Hague on Friday said she’s “very happy” the charge was upgraded from aggravated assault to manslaughter, but she feels a more serious charge of second-degree murder should have been laid.
“I honestly don’t think this is enough,” she said, citing the fact the suspect is alleged to have fled the scene and that Straughan was beaten with a pool cue, according to police.
She said while her family is doing “OK,” the reality of the scenario is still setting in.
“I still feel like he’s going to walk in that door or I’m going to wake up and it’s all going to be some sick dream — but it’s not,” she said.
Straughan’s death has not only affected her, it’s ruined the life of his three children from a previous relationship and robbed her unborn child of a father, Hague said.
At least two online fundraisers have been started to support Hague and her young family. One of the pages had surpassed its $5,000 goal by $1,700 as of Friday afternoon.
Hague said support from the community has helped her during a difficult time for her and her family.
“I’ve had people contact me from all over the world and it’s overwhelming to see all of the support. I’m very thankful for it,” she said.
“I’ve had support groups reach out to me to help from people that have gone through the same thing that I’m going through right now ... It’s really awesome to see that there’s more than just me going through this and I’m going to have that support and all the family has the support from everybody, everywhere.”
Hague said she’ll follow the case as it works its way through the justice system.
Straughan lived in Saskatoon but travelled to Winkler to work for a Saskatoon-based concrete company. Hague said Bird was a co-worker of Straughan’s.
Police confirmed Straughan was struck in the head several times with a pool cue and rendered unconscious. The first officer on the scene immediately began performing CPR, but Straughan later died from his injuries. A witness called 911 and then followed the suspect, leading police directly to the man at a nearby 7-Eleven, where he was arrested within minutes of the incident.
Bird was initially charged with aggravated assault but the charge was upgraded on Friday “after further direction from the Crown Attorney’s office,” RCMP said in a news release.
Hague and Straughan’s family members were driving to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg when they received a call informing them that there was no brain activity. Straughan died Monday at afternoon.
Winkler, a city of 11,000 residents, is located 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.