The Crown is alleging a single punch to the head during a family dispute left one man dead, leading to a charge of manslaughter.

The trial for 55-year-old Des Downey began in Supreme Court this morning.

He was charged following the death of 71-year-old Doug Hunt more than three years ago, in March of 2022.

The Crown’s first witness, James Boland, who was with Hunt all that day, testified he saw Downey punch Hunt once in the head during an altercation on Wishingwell Road.

Boland and Hunt left the area, but within hours Hunt developed severe headaches, lost consciousness, and died despite the best efforts of paramedics.

Court heard Hunt was the long-time partner of Boland’s mother, who had just passed away, and that Downey was in a relationship with his sister.

Boland said they were trying to get permission from his sister to cremate their mother, when Downey confronted them.

Boland said Hunt got worse by the hour after the punch, complaining of “excruciating” headaches that he never had before.

Other family members arrived at their house to help but within 4-6 hours Hunt was pronounced dead.

Police responded to the sudden death at the home on Hussey Drive on the night of March 3rd, 2022.

But it was more than a year later before police laid the manslaughter charge, in May of 2023.

Manslaughter is a step below second-degree murder and suggests someone caused a death without intent to kill.

Downey was committed to stand trial late last year following a preliminary inquiry, and has been largely free on bail, during which it’s alleged he committed another crime, theft under $5,000.

That charge will be dealt with separately in provincial court on Dec. 11, while the manslaughter trial is continuing in Supreme Court.