A St. John’s man has been committed to stand trial for manslaughter in connection with a homicide in the city more than two years ago.

Fifty-three-year-old Des Downey was charged in May of last year after the death of a 71-year-old man more than a year earlier.

Police responded to a sudden death at a home in the east end of the city around 8 p.m. on March 3rd, 2022.

It’s believed the victim was in some kind of fight with Downey in the area of Wishingwell Road several hours earlier.

A subsequent report from the coroner ruled the death was a homicide, leading to the single charge of manslaughter against Downey.

Manslaughter is a step below second-degree murder and suggests he caused the death but didn’t mean to.

Following the preliminary inquiry last week, a judge determined there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Downey has elected to be tried by a Newfoundland Supreme Court judge and jury and is scheduled to be arraigned on December 2nd.