Main Street homicide: Winnipeg police release images of pair spotted near scene

Winnipeg police are asking the public to help them identifytwo "persons of interest"who hadcontact with Henry Kipling before he died early Saturday morning, including a female who was seen wearing a "distinctive" pair of camouflage pants.

Emergency crews found Kipling, 43, in the 800 block of Winnipeg's Main Street around 3 a.m. on Saturday. He was transported to hospital in critical condition, where he died.

• Man, 43, dead after being assaulted twice in Winnipeg's North End, police say

Police have said they believe Kipling was assaulted on two separate occasions by two different people.

On Wednesday, police released surveillance video images of a female and a male who investigators believe were among the last people to have had contact with Kipling before he was taken to hospital.

Const. Jason Michalyshen said investigators hope people who were in the area early Saturday morning may recognize the "distinctive black and white camouflage pants" worn by the female.

"These individuals were involved in what we believe is an assault or having contact with our victim prior to him being transported to hospital," Michalyshen told reporters.

"Our focus is on these individuals not necessarily solely on these individuals, but right now we are trying to identify who these individuals are."

Michalyshensaid police do not believe the two people knew Kipling, who was in the city for a wedding social at the time of the attacks.

Anyone with information aboutthe two people shown in the images, or about the events leading up to Kipling's deathis asked to contact investigators are 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

Earlier this week, the manager of the Northern Hotel told CBC News that Kipling was waiting to buy beer at the hotel's beverage vendor when "some woman started yelling at himand then hit him in the face."

• Hotel manager says he tried to save Main Street homicide victim from attackers

Keith Horn said the woman was removed from the bar, but she continued attacking Kipling after he purchased his beer and went outside with his friends.

Kipling was not bleeding following the first incident, and his friends helped him to his feet, said Horn.

Horn said security camera footage from hishotel captured the second attack, in which Kipling appeared to have beenassaulted by one or two maleswho ran away with his beer.