Three men facing charges related to the death of Owen Sound restaurant owner Sharif Rahman are set to appear together in court on Friday.
Robert Evans Jr., who has been charged with manslaughter, appeared virtually on April 30. During that session, the court learned a judicial pre-trial had taken place on April 24 involving Evans Jr. along with his co-accused, his father, Robert Busby Evans, and uncle, Barry Evans.
A date for resolution was set for June 5. A resolution hearing in a criminal case is when the Crown and defense discuss settling the charges without going to trial, often through plea negotiations.
Busby Evans and Barry Evans each face charges as accessories after the fact. None of the allegations against these three men have been proven in court.
The charges relate to Rahman’s death; he owned The Curry House restaurant in Owen Sound. Rahman passed away on Aug. 24, 2023, one week after suffering serious injuries during an altercation outside his restaurant. He was just 44 years old and left behind a wife and young daughter.
Owen Sound restaurant-owner Sharif Rahman died in August 2023, following an altercation with three men over an unpaid $150 bill. (Submitted by Shayela Nasrin)
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy shared that Rahman was a well-liked member of the community whose absence is still felt nearly three years later.
“Wonderful, wonderful guy. He always had a smile on his face, was always gentle, always very kind,” said Boddy, adding that Rahman was widely recognized throughout the city.
The case received national attention when police claimed that the accused fled Canada after the incident. An international investigation ultimately led to their arrests in Scotland. The trio agreed to extradition and returned to Canada late last year to face charges.
According to court documents and extradition records, Robert Evans Jr. is alleged to have assaulted Rahman during a dispute over an unpaid restaurant bill. His father and uncle are accused of assisting him in leaving Canada afterward. These allegations have yet to be tested in court.
As proceedings advance toward what could be a resolution, Boddy noted that residents are concerned about both justice and supporting Rahman’s family.
“They’re concerned about safety in the community – and they are glad that arrests were made – and that justice is being done,” he said.
Boddy emphasized that everyone’s thoughts remain with Sharif’s wife, child, and family during this difficult time.
WATCH | How 3 suspects were tracked to Scotland:
Unmasking the suspects in Owen Sound restaurant owner’s death | Exclusive
Building on documents filed in a Scottish court, an investigation has confirmed images of the three men linked with Owen Sound restaurateur Sharif Rahman’s death. For The National, CBC’s Jonathon Gatehouse explains how authorities tracked down this father-son-uncle trio in Edinburgh.
Rahman’s wife continues managing The Curry House while receiving strong support from locals according to Boddy.
“His wife continues to run the business downtown and the public supports her quite a bit,” Boddy mentioned. “Hopefully we’ll continue supporting her so she can keep both her business and The Curry House thriving for years ahead here in Owen Sound.”
Boddy remarked that this incident shouldn’t define their city.
“The accused were not from Owen Sound,” he stated firmly. “It doesn’t make Owen Sound a violent place; it was others who brought violence into our community.”
This Friday’s hearing will see all three accused present at once before the court as described by legal documents as a resolution date.
would have reporters at the courthouse covering live updates during this hearing.
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