A jury has found a Wiarton resident not guilty of manslaughter in connection with the death of a Sudbury construction worker.
Chris Barfoot, 22, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was laid after the, death of John David Laine, 28, on May 4, 2001. Laine died following an altercation with Barfoot near a Wiarton bar where both had been drinking. Laine was working in the small town, near Owen Sound, as part of a Sudbury construction crew.
Laine got into a dispute with Barfoot after an evening of drinking at Harry?s Pub.
Barfoot?s lawyer Brian Barrie didn?t call any witnesses or offer any evidence after the Crown wrapped up its case last week.
Barrie argued Barfoot was acting in self-defence when he and Laine got into a physical dispute after closing time outside the bar.
The jury heard there was some tension inside the bar between a group of Sudbury construction workers and several Wiarton men.
Barrie told the jury that after closing time, Laine challenged Barfoot to a fight, and Laine acted aggressively when Barfoot defended himself by pushing Laine away forcing him to fall backwards on a sidewalk.
Assistant Crown attorney Peter Leger provided a much different scenario of events suggesting Barfoot was the aggressor assaulting Laine on two different occasions, which explained why Laine?s body was seen by witnesses in two different positions.
Leger argued it was Barfoot and a friend who pursued and started the fight.
Laine died from brain damage from blunt force trauma to the head. It was agreed the fatal blow happened when Laine?s head struck the sidewalk during the fight.
The three-week jury trial was held in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Owen Sound.
The jury reached its verdict after several hours of deliberation Monday.
Barrie complimented his client for co-operating with police when he heard on the radio that they were looking for help in solving the death of the Sudbury construction worker.
?With files by Keith Lacey, and Don Crosby of the Owen Sound Sun Times
