Owen Sound Homicide Case Returns to Scottish Court as Full Extradition Hearing Set to Begin
Extradition hearings resume Monday in Edinburgh for three UK men accused in the 2023 killing of Owen Sound restaurateur Sharif Rahman, as Scotland weighs Canada’s request.
Owen Sound Current is reporting this week from Edinburgh, where the three men accused in the August 2023 killing of Owen Sound restaurateur Sharif Rahman are expected to appear in Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow morning for the opening day of their full extradition hearing.
Robert Evans Jr., also known as Michael Jones, 25, is wanted by Canadian authorities to face a manslaughter charge. His father, Robert Busby Evans, also known as Justin Jones, 48, and his uncle, Barry Evans, 54, are each sought on charges of accessory after the fact to manslaughter.
Canadian prosecutors allege three men — including Evans Jr. and Barry Evans — dined at The Curry House in downtown Owen Sound on the night of August 17, 2023. Investigators say a dispute began after the men allegedly refused to pay their bill.
In a violent altercation just outside his restaurant, Rahman was reportedly struck, fell to the ground, and suffered critical head injuries. He died a week later in a trauma centre, hours from home.
An international warrant was issued for the trio, who were later arrested in Edinburgh and Dalkeith, Scotland. Evans Jr. and his father have been held in custody since July 2024, while Barry Evans was arrested and detained in December 2024.
A series of preliminary hearings took place between April and July. As we reported on July 31, Sheriff Julius Komorowski determined that the accessory charges for Busby Evans and Barry Evans met the condition of “dual criminality.” That means there is a charge equivalent to Canada’s accessory after the fact in the UK — a prerequisite for extradition.
Still at issue: whether the conditions of Canada’s prisons could impact Scotland’s decision to extradite.
That concern stems from the defence’s argument that detention facilities in Ontario are overcrowded and substandard. Serving time in a Canadian prison would violate their rights, they argued at the May 22 preliminary hearing. The Scottish court requested formal assurances outlining which prisons the Evanses would be sent to during a trial in Canada, and after sentencing, if applicable.
Sheriff Komorowski heard from the prosecution at the next hearing, on June 19, that Canadian officials hadn’t yet delivered the prison assurances.
At the July 31 hearing, the court was told that Canadian authorities had only provided “partial information,” the details of which were not released.
Komorowski said this was “not satisfactory” and expressed concerns that it was neither fair to the victim’s family nor the three men in custody awaiting their hearing to delay the process any longer. He gave the Canadian authorities a deadline of August 21 to provide the requested information.
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, did not respond to our request for clarification on why the prison assurances information had been delayed and was incomplete.
However, Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General told Owen Sound Current in a written statement on August 6 that their agency “does not disclose the current or potential location of individual inmates for security reasons.”
We followed up the same day to ask whether that policy extends to withholding information from a foreign court in an extradition case, given that the Sheriff had specifically requested information about the conditions in the prisons where the men might be held.
They did not respond.
A representative for Canada’s Department of Justice told Owen Sound Current on August 9:
“Canada is working closely with Scottish authorities and has provided the requested information.
To our knowledge, the judge requested further information on federal correctional facilities, not previously covered by the first request, to finalize his decision.
As you may know, sentences of more than two years are generally served in federal correctional institutions, while shorter sentences are served in provincial correctional facilities.”
We requested that the Justice Department clarify whether the “requested information” provided meant the initial partial submission or the information sought by August 21. Their only response was that we seek clarity from the Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Since that last court date, we have not been able to confirm whether the August 21 deadline for prison assurances was met, or whether the information provided satisfied the Scottish court’s requirements.
That is one of the questions expected to be addressed this week. It’s a point that could determine whether Canada’s extradition request moves forward.
The extradition hearings beginning this week mark a pivotal stage in a case that has stretched across two continents and more than two years. The court’s eventual decision will determine whether the Evans men are returned to Canada to face trial in connection with Rahman’s death. It’s a case that has deeply affected the Owen Sound community and drawn attention to Canada’s detention standards abroad.
Owen Sound Current will be in court when proceedings begin on Monday and will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
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