Sharif Rahman Case: Two Accessory Matters Show Signs of Progress in Court
Two accessory-after-the-fact cases in the Sharif Rahman homicide returned to court Tuesday, with comments suggesting at least one may be moving toward resolution.
Two of the three criminal cases arising from the 2023 death of Owen Sound restaurateur Sharif Rahman returned to court Tuesday morning, with comments from counsel suggesting at least one of the accessory cases may be moving toward a possible resolution.
Barry Evans and Robert Evans Sr. (a.k.a. Justin Jones) each appeared before Justice of the Peace Kathryn Kellough in the Ontario Court of Justice on March 31.
Both men are charged with accessory after the fact. Rahman’s death is alleged to have followed an altercation outside his downtown Owen Sound restaurant, The Curry House, on August 17, 2023. The charges have not been proven in court.
Robert Evans Sr. Case Described as “Resolution-Minded”
Robert Evans Sr.’s matter was called first, and he identified himself as “Robert Evans, also known as Justin Jones.”
Defence counsel Katie Scott was not on the call, and Evans Sr. told the court, “I don’t have instructions, Your Worship.”
In reviewing the file, Kellough noted that a Crown pre-trial had been held with Scott on March 16 and added, “It’s looking resolution-minded.”
The court also heard that Crown counsel Patrick Clement appeared to be seeking either a further Crown pre-trial with the other co-accused or a possible joint Crown pre-trial with all counsel.
Kellough remanded Evans Sr. to Wednesday, April 8 by video.
Barry Evans Case Moving Toward Judicial Pre-Trial
Musab Abu-Ali, an articling student appearing for defence counsel Tania Bariteau, indicated the Crown had not been available for pre-trial meetings since the last hearing and told the court, “We are very anxious to keep matters moving along.”
Abu-Ali asked for a return date of April 21 and said the defence was hopeful a judicial pre-trial could be scheduled by then.
The court advised that one of the co-accused has already had a Crown pre-trial and is “working in that direction” as well.
Kellough set the matter for April 22, saying the hope is to set a judicial pre-trial at that point.
What “Resolution-Minded” Could Mean
No pleas were entered Tuesday, and no agreement was announced in either accessory case.
Still, comments in court suggest discussions may be moving beyond basic scheduling and disclosure issues that had stalled these files earlier this year.
In practical terms, that can mean the Crown and defence are discussing whether a case can be resolved without a full trial. That does not guarantee a plea or any particular outcome, but it generally signals a case may be moving into a more substantive stage.
A judicial pre-trial, if scheduled, would be another sign of that. Those hearings typically take place once disclosure is further along and counsel are in a better position to discuss issues, possible resolution, or trial management.
Sharif Rahman was injured during an altercation outside The Curry House in downtown Owen Sound on August 17, 2023, and died a week later in hospital.
Police allege Robert Evans Jr. struck Rahman during the confrontation. Barry Evans and Robert Evans Sr., his uncle and father, are each accused of helping events unfold after the assault, not of participating in the fatal blow itself.
According to earlier police allegations and extradition materials, Barry Evans is accused of assisting his nephew’s escape from the scene and later removing hotel records, while Robert Evans Sr. is accused of helping arrange transportation out of Canada the following day.
All three men were arrested in Scotland and extradited to Canada in December 2025. None of the charges against them have been proven in court.
Robert Evans, the man charged with manslaughter in Rahman’s homicide, is due in court on Thursday, April 2.
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