Robert Evans Jr. Requests Delay in Bail Proceedings in Sharif Rahman Homicide Case
Counsel for U.K resident accused of manslaughter in 2023 homicide of Owen Sound restaurateur requests delay in bail proceedings, but reserves right to pursue it at a later date.
Robert Evans Jr. (a.k.a. Michael Jones), the U.K. citizen accused of delivering the punch that caused Sharif Rahman’s death in 2023, appeared in an Owen Sound courtroom by video this morning, clean-shaven in an orange prison jumpsuit, from a provincial correctional facility.
Evans Jr. and his counsel of record, Adam Weisberg, appeared in front of Justice of the Peace S. Ball. just after 9:30 a.m.
Weisberg briefly explained that a video access error had prevented his associate from appearing two days prior, at Evans Jr.’s first scheduled bail hearing.
However, he explained, they have elected not to proceed with bail at this time, and Weisberg requested his client be put in the regular bail stream to appear alongside one of the co-accused. They requested a January 12 bail hearing — the same day Evans Jr.’s uncle, Barry Evans, is scheduled.
Justice Ball asked Weisberg to confirm whether the defendant was forfeiting his bail rights.
“No, not giving up bail rights,” Weisberg said, indicating they might choose to “go for bail” at a later time. However, he said, he needs a better idea of what the Crown’s case is. Crown Prosecutor Patrick Clement consented.
At the three Evans men’s first Canadian court appearance on December 12, Clement indicated that the reverse onus applies in this case. That means the defence will bear the burden of showing why Evans Jr. should be released, rather than the Crown having to justify continued detention, once bail hearings proceed.
After some administrative juggling, Evans Jr.’s next appearance was scheduled for Thursday, January 8. He was remanded back into custody.
Evans Jr. is charged with manslaughter in relation to a deadly altercation on August 17, 2023, at Rahman’s downtown Owen Sound restaurant, The Curry House. According to police records, Evans and two of his family members — Barry Evans and a brother of Evans Jr.’s who was not charged in this case — are alleged to have dined at the restaurant and refused to pay their bill.
According to investigators, police received a 911 call at 9:23 p.m. reporting an assault in progress. Witnesses reported hearing a loud crack as Evans Jr. struck Rahman in the face in front of his restaurant.
Rahman reportedly hit the ground and never regained consciousness. He was transported to a London, Ontario, trauma centre and succumbed to critical head injuries one week later.
Barry Evans, charged with accessory after the fact, is alleged to have retrieved the group’s vehicle from a nearby lot and waited for his nephews nearby, yelling, “Run!” as they fled the scene. Police allege he picked Busby Evans Sr. up from the hotel and drove the group to Collingwood that night.
Barry Evans is also accused of returning to the Travelodge in Owen Sound the next morning to retrieve the group’s hotel registration records.
Busby Evans Sr. is charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly arranging Evans Jr.’s transportation to Pearson International Airport in Toronto and a flight to Heathrow in London on August 18, 2023.
On August 24, 2023, the same day Owen Sound Police Service released two grainy photos of suspects fleeing the scene, Rahman was pronounced deceased. Two days later, OPP joined the homicide investigation.
Canadian police affidavits presented in an Edinburgh court earlier this year allege that father and son used passports in the names Justin Jones (Busby Evans Sr.) and Michael Jones (Evans Jr.), and that despite the aliases, they were accepted as valid by the Canadian Border Services Agency.
They were identified in police documents as Irish Travellers who travelled Southwestern Ontario that summer with a small crew of men, offering driveway paving services door to door in exchange for cash, and at least one vehicle.
The ensuing international manhunt resulted in the arrests of Evans Jr. and Busby Evans Sr. in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 30, 2024. Barry Evans’ arrest followed months later, on October 29, 2024, in Dalkeith, Scotland. All three are believed to have been living near Manchester, England, prior to their arrests.
The Evans group were held in custody in Scotland throughout extradition hearings that began in April 2025 and culminated in their unexpected agreement to face the charges in Canada when they last appeared in Edinburgh court on October 20, 2025.
Ontario police confirmed on December 11 that all three had been returned to Canada, a process that required the coordination of multiple international agencies, including OSPS, OPP, the National Extradition Unit of the National Crime Agency, and Police Scotland.
All three Evans men are now due to appear in Owen Sound court by video in early January.
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