Drunk driving and manslaughter charges have been laid against suspects after a man was assaulted, left unconscious on a roadway and then fatally struck by a vehicle in Winnipeg's first killing of 2015.
Dustin McKay, 22, died after the incident on Isabel Street and Pacific Avenue on Jan. 23.
Officers said he had been involved in a fight on the roadway. He was knocked unconscious and left on the road.
A man and woman fled the scene in a vehicle.
A short while later, another vehicle hit McKay while he was unconscious on the road, said police. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition where he was pronounced dead.
“We have a (person) just trying to cross the street and this tragedy occurs,” said Const. Eric Hofley from Winnipeg police.
“At the end of the day…we have a pedestrian attempting to cross the street - someone becoming perturbed and taking this way beyond what anybody could possibly believe as reasonable. Getting out, assaulting him to the point of unconsciousness, leaving him lying there in the roadway to later be struck by another vehicle,” said Hofley.
Patrolling officers saw the collision and took a driver into custody.
Desmond Evan Spicer, 50, of Winnipeg faces charges for driving while impaired causing death and driving with more than 80 mg of alcohol in blood causing death.
Police said the homicide unit identified a male suspect involved in the initial fight.
Billy Joe Couture, 28, of Winnipeg faces charges for manslaughter, failing to comply with a probation order and failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance.
- with files from Ben Miljure and Cheryl Holmes
