Two men accused of killing their roommate over the weekend are appeared in a Calgary courtroom via CCTV on Tuesday.
Police were called to a townhome on 90 Avenue S.E. for a check on welfare call but, when officers arrived at the scene, they found the body of a man outside the home.
Investigators have identified the victim as 33-year-old Sutton Bowers.
James Andrew Beaver, 51, and Brian John Lambert, 41, have been charged with manslaughter in connection with the incident.
Officials allege that Bowers was the victim of a fight between the trio.
"I am not sure what the specifics are," said CPS Insp. Don Coleman on Monday. "There had been some type of roommate dispute that had been ongoing but I am not exactly sure of the details on that."
He said that the attack was likely a one-punch type scenario. "One person falls and hits their head. This situation is a bit different, but manslaughter is the charge."
Dean Goffinet, a neighbour, said the situation is pretty scary. "My friend lives closer to them than I do. His daughter was playing around that area so that's mildly scary."
"They seemed like really nice guys, always quiet. They really liked the little dogs that they had. I'd see them walking down right here on the sidewalk, that kind of thing," said another Brian Struthers, another neighbour.
Sutton’s family spoke to CTV briefly, saying that their family is completely devastated by the loss.
“He was very intelligent and smiled all the time,” said his mother Lorine Bowers. “He was a good person who loved people, loved animals and music was his life. We’re still in a lot of shock… I can’t believe my baby is gone.”
The family says they were supposed to celebrate Thanksgiving over the weekend, but those plans have now changed to planning Sutton’s funeral.
Lambert and Beaver appeared in court on Tuesday and the case was adjourned until October 17, 2016.
An autopsy is expected to be conducted sometime on Tuesday.
