A 25‑year‑old man from Darwen, Lancashire, was sentenced to 3½ years in custody for the fatal punch that caused the death of an Owen Sound restaurant owner three years ago.
Robert Evans Jr., also known as Michael Jones, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Ontario Court of Justice on June 5, following a statement of agreed facts regarding the August 17, 2023 assault.
Justice Christopher Chorney, who had reserved sentencing until Friday, imposed a 1,277‑day sentence. The defendant has already served 710 days in pre‑sentencing custody, and with credit for time served, 1,065 days are accounted for, leaving roughly seven months to complete before a deportation order is enforced.
In addition, the judge issued a lifetime prohibition on firearms and other weapons. The judge described the victim, Sharif Rahman, as a valued member of the community and a beloved husband and father, noting that his death was profoundly tragic.
Chorney explained that the manslaughter charge recognizes the lack of intent to kill, while still acknowledging the gravity of the offense. He emphasized the need to weigh aggravating and mitigating factors to arrive at an appropriate sentence.
The incident began when Evans Jr. left the restaurant after a dispute over an unpaid bill. A confrontation outside the establishment led to Evans Jr. delivering a single punch to Rahman’s face. The victim was pushed twice and restrained by one hand before the assailants fled.
Rahman was knocked to the sidewalk, struck the back of his head, and died a week later in a London, Ontario hospital. The judge characterized the case as a “one‑punch” manslaughter event, noting that the assailant did not intend bodily harm.
Chorney stated that the sentence falls within the mid‑range for manslaughter and that it may appear lenient to some, but is proportional to the offender’s responsibility and consistent with comparable cases.
Aggravating factors cited included the assault occurring while the assailant was attempting to leave without paying, his subsequent flight from the scene, and his rapid departure from Canada. Prior convictions for possession of an imitation firearm and for battery also weighed against him.
Mitigating factors included the guilty plea, the defendant’s remorse, and the fact that a plea saved the victim’s family additional grief that a trial might have caused.
Hafeez Motorwala, the imam of the local Muslim community, expressed that the sentence was “a joke” and that the punishment did not reflect the loss of a life.
Mayor Ian Boddy acknowledged that the sentence might disappoint some but described it as appropriate, noting that justice would be served.
Evans Jr.’s father, Robert Busby Evans, and his uncle, Barry Evans, were also charged as accessories after the fact. Both were sentenced to time served, with additional credit for time already spent in custody.
The judge confirmed that the family’s involvement in facilitating the assailant’s escape warranted a serious sentence, consistent with similar cases involving accessory to homicide.
