Halifax teen gets bail on manslaughter charge, with Crown’s consent
A 17-year-old boy charged with manslaughter in the death of a Dartmouth man last month following an assault on the Halifax waterfront was granted bail Friday with the Crown’s consent.
The Halifax teen, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was scheduled to have a bail hearing Friday in youth court.
But defence lawyer Stan MacDonald was able to work out release conditions with Crown attorney Terry Nickerson.
Judge Ann Marie Simmons accepted the proposed plan and released the boy on an undertaking with supervision by a responsible person, his father.
The teen must live with his parents and observe a 6 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew. The only exceptions to the curfew are if he is in the company of one of his parents or is dealing with a medical emergency or appointment or a legal commitment.
The judge ordered him to have no contact with seven potential Crown witnesses and prohibited him from having any firearms and possessing or consuming alcohol or drugs.
The charge will be back in court Sept. 14.
Halifax Regional Police responded to a disturbance on the waterfront in the 1500 block of Lower Water Street on Aug. 6 at about 9:40 p.m.
Officers located an unresponsive man on the boardwalk. The victim was transported to hospital, where he died.
A medical examiner conducted an autopsy and ruled the death to be a homicide. The victim was identified as Davelle Rodney Vance Desmond, 26.
The suspect turned himself in at police headquarters this Wednesday and was arraigned in court Thursday.
The prosecutor gave notice that if the teen is convicted, the Crown could seek to have him sentenced as an adult.
The boy is also due in youth court Sept. 12 for sentencing on an earlier charge of assault causing bodily harm. Nickerson told the court Friday that the victim in that incident was an elderly man who suffered a broken shoulder and a broken arm.
Desmond and his girlfriend were expecting a child in November. His uncle, Kevin Desmond, started a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs and for after the baby is born.
Police continue to investigate Desmond’s homicide. They are asking anyone with information about the incident or video from the area, who has not already spoken with investigators, to call them at 902-490-5020.
