By Ashley Legassic

Fight that led to North Shore death fuelled by jealousy: Crown

Feb 25, 2019 | 12:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — The death of a 42-year-old man outside of a North Shore bar in December 2016 was the result of a fight fuelled by jealousy, according to the Crown prosecutors in the case.

James David Bond is charged with one count of manslaughter in connection to the death of Sean Dunn. His trial began in Kamloops Supreme Court today (Feb. 25).

Crown prosecutor Oliver Potestio opened the trial by giving a brief overview on what the 12-member jury can expect to hear over the next two to three weeks.

Potestio argued that an altercation between Dunn and Bond allegedly led to Bond beating Dunn until he was dead. 

According to Potestio, Sean Dunn and several people he met on the evening of Dec. 29 and early morning of Dec. 30, 2016, left the Duchess shortly after 2:30 a.m. Dunn was last seen alive on surveillance footage near the intersection of Tranquille Road and Wood Street.

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

17h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: How to reduce food waste in Kamloops during the festive season

23h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 12, 2024

Dec 12, 2024

“His death was a result of a beating by the accused, James David Bond,” Potestio claimed.

Crown said that Dunn had been drinking excessively in the hours prior to his death, and arrived at the Duchess just after midnight. When he arrived he played some pool, which is where he met Bond, Bond’s girlfriend, and a friend from Alberta who was visiting the couple.

Potestio added that Bond’s girlfriend didn’t “shy away” from Dunn, which made Bond upset and he took issue with the actions between the two of them. He said the jury will see surveillance footage from inside and outside the bar during trial.

“It is important to allow you to observe what took place between the trio both inside and outside the bar,” Potestio said.

Outside the bar, things escalated between Dunn and Bond, Potestio claimed. A bouncer who was working that night is expected to testify about the verbal argument between the pair and trying to separate them.

Surveillance footage will show that Bond approached Dunn outside several times, and each time Dunn would back away, Potestio said.

Eventually the group walked across Tranquille Road and up Wood Street, after Dunn invited the group over to his home. Potestio said Bond’s visiting friend was walking ahead of the group when he heard a woman shriek, and saw Dunn laying unconscious on his back, on the snow-covered ground, bleeding from his head — with Bond allegedly on top of him and punching him.

The friend then allegedly pulled Bond off of Dunn, and Bond and his girlfriend fled in an unknown vehicle, Potestio said.

Bond’s friend stayed with Dunn until emergency crews arrived.

Potestio added that Bond’s girlfriend was not cooperative with investigators afterward.

Witnesses began testimony this afternoon, and the trial is scheduled to last three weeks.

Lawyers and Supreme Court Justice Sheri Donegan emphasized that Crown’s opening arguments were not considered evidence in the case.