Man found not guilty of manslaughter in death after single punch in Kelowna
KELOWNA, B.C. — Cory Van Gilder sobbed tears of relief when a Kelowna jury declared him not guilty of manslaughter Tuesday afternoon.
Van Gilder, 26, was charged in the February 2016 death of 30-year-old Zachary Gaudette outside a Kelowna restaurant.
The jury began deliberations Monday afternoon, after a one-week trial, and came to a unanimous decision at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
On Feb. 17, 2016, Van Gilder had been at a Cactus Club with a group of friends, celebrating a birthday.