Sharif Rahman Canadian restaurant owner
Three British men have admitted their involvement in the death of a Canadian restaurant owner who was fatally injured following a dispute over an unpaid restaurant bill in Ontario.Robert Evans Jr, 25, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Sharif Rahman, 44, during a court hearing in Canada on Friday. Rahman, a restaurant owner and father, died days after an altercation outside his business in Owen Sound in August 2023.The case stemmed from an argument over an unpaid restaurant bill worth $150. Prosecutors said the confrontation took place outside a curry restaurant in the Ontario town, located about 190 kilometres northwest of Toronto.Rahman was later found lying in the street by a member of staff and was taken to hospital in London, Ontario, where he died a week later from his injuries.Robert Evans Jr’s father, Robert Busby Evans, 49, and his uncle, Barry Evans, 56, pleaded guilty to being accessories after the fact. Both men have been sentenced to the time they had already served in custody.The three men are believed to be from Manchester and were extradited to Canada from Scotland in 2025 after being arrested by Police Scotland.
Authorities detained Robert Evans Jr and his father in Edinburgh, while Barry Evans was arrested in Dalkeith.Canadian media previously reported that the men had been visiting the country on holiday visas and left Canada shortly after the incident, as cited by BBC.Robert Evans Jr is due to be sentenced next month.Police in Owen Sound told the BBC that the two older men have been transferred to the custody of the Canadian Border Services Agency and are expected to be repatriated.The case also involved legal challenges during extradition proceedings. Lawyers representing the two older men argued that the offence of being an accessory after the fact did not have a direct equivalent under Scottish law and sought to block their extradition. Canadian authorities ultimately secured their transfer to face proceedings.The death of Rahman drew significant attention in the local community, with residents and business owners calling for justice after the popular restaurateur died from injuries sustained during the confrontation.
