(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)
March 02, 2017 - 3:37 PM
KELOWNA – A Kelowna man and a bouncer are guilty of helping an assault that put a 23-year-old man in a coma with a fractured skull outside a nightclub in 2014.
Steven Kaplan was found guilty of aggravated assault and Kyle L. O’Brien of assault in Kelowna Supreme Court today, March 2.
On the night of Sept. 6, 2014, Kaplan got into two separate fights with Michael Martin, who is 5’10” and 130 lbs. Justice Alan Betton ruled today that after the fights, Kaplan arranged for a friend, Kollie, to assault the victim.
Kollie, the man who threw the punch, was convicted of aggravated assault in May and given a five-year sentence.
To get him out of a downtown nightclub for the assault, Kaplan enlisted the help of Sapphire doorman, co-accused Kyle O’Brien, who was caught on video carrying the victim out by his head.
“He was aware that he was putting him out… and there would be an assault,” Betton said.
Once outside, Kollie knocked the victim out with a punch before fleeing the scene.
Kaplan told police he “was surprised” when the assault occurred, but Betton says video footage shows him walk casually away from the victim's unconscious body.
O’Brien also saw the assault take place and knew the victim was injured but did not help.
“O’Brien acted as a party… to the offence of assault,” Betton said.
Both men will be sentenced at a later date.
- This story was corrected at 4:15 p.m. March 2 to clarify that O'Brien was charged with simple assault and not aggravated assault.
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