U.K. man gets 3.5 years for manslaughter of Owen Sound restaurateur Sharif Rahman

Robert Evans Jr. has about seven months left to serve, then he will face deportation, judge said

Published Jul 11, 2026  •  5 minute read

The man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Sharif Rahman, shown here, was sentenced to 3.5 years and has about seven months left to serve following a hearing in Owen Sound Friday, July 10, 2026. Photo by Supplied / Owen Sound Sun Times /Postmedia Network

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OWEN SOUND — The man who threw the fatal punch that led to Owen Sound restaurateur Sharif Rahman’s death three years ago was sentenced to 3.5 years in custody as recommended by Crown and defence.

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Robert Evans Jr., 25, also known as Michael Jones, of Darwen Lancashire, England, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Ontario Court of Justice in Owen Sound on June 5, when a statement of agreed facts was presented about the Aug. 17, 2023 assault.

Ontario Court Justice Christopher Chorney reserved sentencing of him until Friday in Owen Sound.

He sentenced Evans Jr. to 1,277 days or about 3.5 years. With presentence custody of 710 days, enhanced by 1.5 days for every day served, as is standard, he’s credited with 1,065 days, leaving 212 days or about seven months to serve, then will face deportation, the judge said. He also issued a lifetime firearms and other weapons prohibition.

Rahman’s death profoundly tragic

Chorney described Rahman as a “valued and well liked member of the Owen Sound community, a beloved husband and father. His death was profoundly tragic. It was felt by the community and attracted a great deal of attention and outpouring of sympathy.”

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Chorney went through the factors he had to consider and the sentencing range available for manslaughter, a charge that acknowledges Evans Jr.’s lack of intent to cause the death of Rahman, he said. To understand the sentence, people have to understand the mitigating and aggravating factors specific to this offence and offender, the judge said.

“This was truly a one-punch case of manslaughter,” Chorney said, repeating the description given by Grey County Crown attorney Patrick Clement at the earlier court appearance.

“While Mr. Evans ought to have known he might cause some bodily harm, he certainly did not intend to cause the death of Mr. Rahman. Nor did he mean to cause bodily harm to him. It is in this context that one must evaluate the gravity of the offence,” Chorney said.

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Plead guilty to manslaughter

The plea to manslaughter was based on causing Rahman’s death by an unlawful act, which was assault, the judge said.

Evans Jr. sat in the prisoner’s box, clean-shaven, his brown hair combed back. He wore a blue sweater, pants and jail sneakers and listened quietly.

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A few reporters in the courtroom and many more on Zoom observed the proceedings. Two investigating officers and two immigration officials and others attended.

The assault arose when Evans Jr., left the restaurant and smoked a cigarette. His uncle and a youth left the restaurant without paying, Clement recounted at the June hearing, which Chorney summarized Friday.

Rahman confronted them outside the restaurant and demanded $145 he was owed for the food. Evans Jr. punched him once in the face after the trio tried to leave and Rahman tried to detain them by pushing Evans Jr. twice and holding him with one hand.

Restaurant owner died in hospital

Rahman was propelled backwards, he hit the back of his head on the sidewalk and the men fled. Rahman died a week later in a London, Ont. hospital.

Chorney said the sentence recommended by Crown and defence falls within the mid-range for manslaughter.

Chorney acknowledged the case has affected Rahman’s family and the community profoundly. He said the sentence may seem lenient, particularly for a case involving a death, but if all of the facts and considerations required are understood, it is an appropriate sentence in the circumstances.

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While there is great sympathy for the family, the law requires a sentence proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the degree of responsibility of the offender, Chorney said. It must be in line with what others with a similar offence and background received.

He considered this case’s aggravating factors, which included that Evans committed the offence while trying to leave the restaurant without paying. More aggravating was that he fled without trying to help Rahman, then fled Canada.

“I find that his evasion from the scene and then his swift flight from the country reflects that he knew how serious what he had done was, even if he did not intend to cause the harm he did when he committed the assault.”

Evasion aggravated community

His evasion aggravated the community and must have done the same for Rahman’s family, he said. The “profound consequences” are aggravating, as are Evans’ U.K. convictions for possession of an imitation firearm and for battery, Chorney said.

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Mitigating factors included the guilty plea, which saved Rahman’s family more grief during a trial.

The judge found Evans’ statement of remorse “sincere and reflected very good insight into the harm that he has caused. He will carry lifelong guilt, which “pales in comparison to the grief he has caused the victim’s family for the rest of their lives,” Chorney said.

Hafeez Motorwala, the imam of the Owen Sound Muslim Community Association, said on Friday that, in his personal opinion, the court’s sentencing was “a joke.”

“His life was taken away. I think three-and-a-half years doesn’t do it justice,” Motorwala said.

Motorwala argued Evans Jr.’s intent shouldn’t matter if the result of his actions left a man dead.

“He should know better. Whether he intended to kill or not, violence was intended, aggression was intended, and that caused his death, right?” Motorwala said. “They didn’t even pay the bill, and when the owner approached them for his due right, you resort to violence? I feel the person has to pay the price for their actions. Everyone feels remorse afterwards. The remorse is not going to bring that life back.”

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Mayor called sentence appropriate

Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy said he knew some people would be disappointed with the sentencing given the circumstances, but called it an appropriate decision. Boddy, who is a lawyer, said sentencing in this case more closely reflects the intended crime of assault.

“Not everyone’s going to be happy with the sentence,” he said. “However, justice will be carried out.”

Evans Jr.’s father, Robert Busby Evans, 49, who is also known as Justin Jones, of Darwen Lancashire, England, and his uncle, Barry Evans, 55, of West Yorkshire, England pleaded guilty on June 5 to being accessories after the fact.

Chorney sentenced them that day to time served as recommended by Crown and defence lawyers in June — 21 months time served plus one day, deemed served.

Busby Evans, who wasn’t at the restaurant the night of the assault, arranged for a plane ticket for his son. His uncle drove him to Collingwood, then retrieved Owen Sound motel documents that could identify them to cover their tracks.

They spent more time than 21 months in custody — credited at 34 months for Busby Evans and 30 months for Barry Evans, Chorney noted in June.

The judge found their sentence accords with similar cases of accessory after the fact involving a homicide. They helped Evans Jr. get away, which Chorney at the June sentencing called “very serious.”

They were held for the Canada Border Security Agency, which cited privacy reasons for declining to address subsequent Sun Times questions posed about them.

— with files by Owen Sound Sun Times reporter Greg Cowan

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