Winkler Police report that the charges against Justin Leslie Bird, 29, of Saskatoon Saskatchewan, have been upgraded to Manslaughter in relation to the death of Zachary Straughan, also of Saskatoon Saskatchewan.

Justin Leslie Bird remains in custody at the Winnipeg Remand Center awaiting his next court appearance scheduled for Morden Provincial Court on October 11, 2016.

Winkler police officers were called to the Valley Bowling Lanes on September 24 at 11:59 pm where an argument over a small unpaid bill between two males well known to each other, turned violent. The victim was struck several times with a pool cue.

Justin Leslie Bird, was initially held on charges of Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Controlled Substance. After Zachary Straughan died of his injuries on September 26 at 3:40 pm at Health Sciences Center, the charge was upgraded after further direction from the Crown Attorney’s office.

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