Charge upgraded to manslaughter for bowling alley attack

The Saskatoon man charged in the death of Zachary Straughan, who was beaten with a pool cue at a bowling alley last weekend in Winkler, Man., has had his charge upgraded to manslaughter.

Justin Leslie Bird, 29, was initially charged with aggravated assault and possession of a controlled substance following the attack, which happened inside Valley Bowling Lanes on Main Street just before midnight Saturday in the south-central Manitoba city.

Straughan, 25, was taken to a hospital in Winnipeg, where he died of injuries on Monday afternoon.

• 'It was over $16': Saskatoon woman speaks out after boyfriend killed in Manitoba
• Winkler bowling alley attack victim dies in hospital

The Winkler Police Service announced Friday that the assault charge against Bird has been upgraded to manslaughter, as a result of direction from the Crown attorney's office.

He remains in custody at the Winnipeg Remand Centre and will make his next court appearance in Morden, Man., on Oct. 11.

Police said the men, whowere both from Saskatoon but werein Winkler as part of a work crew, got into "an argument over a small unpaid bill" that turned violent, with Straughan struck "several times" with a pool cue.

Straughan's girlfriend, Ashley Hague, told CBC News earlier this week that the argument was over $16.

"Now he leaves behind three children and one on the way because of $16," she said. "It's just senseless."