Tyson Lafonde died in Feb 2021, a year after being attacked in a PACC cell. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Tyson Lafonde death

Not guilty pleas start trial of two men accused of killing Tyson Lafonde

Oct 30, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Two of the remaining suspects in the beating of Tyson Lafonde inside the Prince Albert Correctional Centre in 2020 began their trial for second-degree murder on Monday.

George Samuel Custer and Bruce Allan Napope are charged with killing Lafonde, who died one year after being attacked in a cellblock set aside for gang members.

Crown prosecutor MaryAnne Larson started by asking the judge to consider convicting the two men of manslaughter in the event she fails to make the case that their actions were homicide.

Another man, Kyle Bear, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is awaiting sentencing in connection with the “group attack”, as described by Larson.

Along with video evidence of the activity leading up to the attack, which she intends to have witnesses testify to show guilt, Larson plans to use the accused men’s post-offender conduct to help prove their guilt.

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She said there is no direct evidence of the attack itself.

Most of the first week of the trial will be a voir dire (trial within a trial) as the Crown’s witnesses give their evidence of the alleged homicide and Larson will try to use that to convince the judge that the assault must have happened in a certain way.

If the judge agrees the evidence is applicable and valid, it will form part of the trial evidence.

READ MORE: Lafonde murder case committed for trial

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com