A British man who admitted to manslaughter in connection with the death of Owen Sound, Ont., restaurant owner Sharif Rahman nearly three years ago was sentenced on Friday to 3½ years in prison.
The hearing for Robert Evans Jr. started at 11:40 a. m. ET in the Ontario Court of Justice in Owen Sound.
Last month, Evans Jr. entered his plea and expressed regret to Rahman’s family, in a case that has garnered significant attention since the deadly altercation outside The Curry House on Aug. 17, 2023. His father and uncle had already been sentenced in relation to the case.
“[Rahman’s] death was profoundly tragic. It was felt by the community and attracted a great deal of attention and outpouring of sympathy,” Justice Christopher Chorney told court on Friday. “His family will suffer his loss greatly forever. There’s nothing we can do to make that less so.”
WATCH | RECAP: British man guilty in death of Ontario restaurateur sentenced:
British man guilty in death of Ontario restaurateur gets 3½ years in prison
Three years after the passing of Owen Sound restaurant owner Sharif Rahman, a British man received a sentence of 3½ years behind bars. Robert Evans Jr. pleaded guilty after he struck Rahman outside The Curry House just a week before his death. CBC’s Kendra Seguin gives an overview of the proceedings.
The Crown and defence presented a joint recommendation for sentencing for Evans Jr., which was set at 42 months. Under Canadian law, judges typically accept joint sentencing recommendations unless it would harm public interest or bring disrepute upon justice administration.
“As such, I will order the sentence as proposed: three and a half years,” Chorney stated.
Taking into account credit for time spent in pretrial custody, Evans Jr. will have seven months left to serve in jail before being deported back to the U. K.
Judge weighs multiple factors
The court heard that Rahman, who was 44 years old, confronted several individuals after they allegedly left the downtown restaurant without paying their bill. Evans Jr. punched Rahman, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement; he succumbed a week later at a London hospital.
Owen Sound restaurant owner Sharif Rahman died in August 2023 following an altercation with three men over an unpaid $150 dining bill. (Submitted by Shayela Nasrin)
On June 5, Evans Jr., standing in court, delivered his apology while acknowledging that Rahman was well-respected as a good family man within 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 remarked.
Chorney noted that he perceived Evans Jr.’s apology as “sincere.”
“I accept he is truly remorseful and he will carry the guilt for what he has done for the rest of his life,” Chorney said. “Of course, this pales in comparison to the grief he has caused the victim’s family for the rest of their lives.”
Father and uncle previously sentenced
As part of his guilty plea, charges against Evans Jr., including aggravated assault were withdrawn by the Crown.
Nonetheless, Chorney mentioned several “aggravating factors” influencing his decision regarding sentencing-particularly that Evans Jr fled both from Canada and from the scene itself.
Robert Evans Jr. reads an apology from the prisoner’s box in an Owen Sound courtroom on June 5, 2026. (Pam Davies)
“I find that his evasion from the scene and then his swift flight from the country reflects that he knew how serious what he had done was; even if he did not intend to cause harm when committing assault.”
Annie Finlay-Stewart, who was friends with Rahman and also lived locally said she appreciated that Judge agreed with suggested sentence.
“I felt relieved for [the family] knowing they wouldn’t have go through trial because I believe it would’ve been stressful for everyone involved,” she commented.
Evans Jr., identified as suspect by Canadian investigators back in 2024 after which charges were brought against him; authorities arrested him months later while Scotland authorities detained him following Rahman’s demise before extraditing him back Canada face trial.
Your father Robert Busby Evans along Uncle Barry Evan pleaded guilty accessory charge assisting son flee Canada post assault incident involving Rahman. The two received sentences totaling twenty-one months but due time served going forward must be deported afterward.
Your Finlay-Stewart concluded saying closure surrounding these matters should allow many residents across Owen sound begin healing process moving ahead positively.
“People can feel assured justice has occurred resulting decisions made.”
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