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Roman Bourque, 23, was charged with manslaughter Friday in relation to the beating death of Emerson Curran.
 Emerson Curran was pronounced dead at an Edmonton hospital on Aug. 25 after an altercation at a Yellowknife house party. |
Charge in house party death Man accused of fatally punching deceased
released on $15,000 bail
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Updated: Monday, September 2, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A 23-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of Emerson Curran following a Yellowknife house party Aug. 24.
Yellowknife RCMP arrested Roman Bourque Thursday night. He appeared in territorial court in Yellowknife Friday wearing a grey T-shirt and black slacks. Bourque is a large man, well over six feet tall with a muscular build.
He was released on $15,000 bail by judge Bernadette Schmaltz.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Barry Ledoux wouldn't comment on Bourque's arrest or whether or not he had turned himself in to police.
"All we're saying is he was arrested last night," Ledoux said.
Curran was pronounced dead at an Edmonton hospital on Aug. 25. He was medevaced there after being seriously injured at a house party on Loutitt Street in Frame Lake South shortly after midnight on Aug. 24.
There was an altercation at the party in which witnesses say Curran struck first. Bourque allegedly retaliated, knocking him onto a piano before raining blows upon him. Curran had been knocked unconscious.
Two bystanders attempted to provide CPR but were blocked by crowds of party-goers, according to witnesses. He was transported to Stanton Territorial Hospital shortly afterwards.
According to a Facebook page event listing, 64 people RSVP'd to attend the party. RCMP interviewed more than 100 witnesses during their investigation, but Ledoux couldn't say whether all the witnesses were at the party or not. RCMP are thanking the public for their assistance in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Bourque is ordered to appear in Yellowknife territorial court again on Nov. 12. Crown prosecutor Susanne Boucher said police need at least six to eight weeks to comb through the dozens of witness reports.
Curran was in Yellowknife for the summer working as a dock hand for Air Tindi's floatbase in Old Town.
He's originally from Ottawa and was scheduled to fly home the day after the house party. Bourque is a lifelong Yellowknife resident.
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