Bartenders, patron describe violent altercation in Moncton manslaughter trial
Rodney Frenette allegedly assaulted on the job in 2023. He later died in hospital
Two bartenders and a patron testified in Moncton Court of King's Bench Thursday about what unfolded at a pub inside Casino New Brunswick in the early morning hours of March 4, 2023.
Michael Glaspy, 53, is facing one charge of manslaughter in connection with the death of Rodney Frenette, a food and beverage manager at the casino. Frenette died 24 days after the alleged assault at Hub City Pub.
Video surveillance of an altercation between Glaspy and Frenette was presented to the jury several times in court Thursday.
Glaspy is seen walking up to Frenette near the pub's dance floor, where people were sitting and talking at tables. After an argument and a struggle, Frenette eventually stumbles and falls backwards, hitting his head on the floor. He does not get up.
Danilo Roque, who was a bartender at Casino New Brunswick for 11 years and was working that night, testified that he saw how the altercation began.
"Mr. Glaspy was too close to Rodney, like he was going to do something," he told the jury. "Then I saw a swing."
Roque clarified that he did not see Glaspy's punch hit Frenette.
Roque said he and another bartender, Dominic Gagnon, ran over and held Glaspy's arms as he was "trying to attack Rodney." Roque testified he heard Glaspy say "just one punch, just one punch."
Gagnon also testified on Thursday and confirmed how the fight unfolded and that Glaspy seemed to want to continue to hit Frenette.
During cross-examination, defence lawyer Gilles Lemieux replayed footage of the altercation for Roque, pausing near the beginning.
"Would you agree with me that Mr. Frenette pushed him?" he asked Roque, referring to a moment where Frenette can be seen shoving Glaspy.
Roque replied, "Yes."
"And there hadn't been a swing at that point, is that correct?"
Roque replied, "No."
Lemieux continued the video to a point where Frenette is seen falling backward, along with Glaspy and the bartenders holding him.
"Everybody went down like dominoes, would you agree?," Lemieux asked Roque, to which he replied, "Yes."
"It wasn't a punch that knocked him down ... would you agree with me?"
"I think so," Roque said.
Glaspy and his wife 'seemed intoxicated'
Jennifer Gallant, who described herself as a regular at the pub, was at Casino New Brunswick that day.
She testified that throughout the evening and into the early morning, Glaspy and his wife were "disturbing everyone that was at that place" and that "there was a lot of drinking."
Gagnon said he served Glaspy two double whiskeys and a shot of tequila, and that he "seemed intoxicated." He said Glaspy's wife had a double whiskey, then a single, and shot of tequila.
The Crown played more video surveillance of the pub, which showed the band playing and people dancing. Gallant said she was sitting at a table between the dance floor and a long bar.
Gallant told the jury that prior to the altercation, she heard Frenette tell Glaspy at the bar that he would no longer be served alcohol but that he could stay.
Later, during cross-examination, Gallant changed parts of her answers.
When asked if she had seen Frenette tell Glaspy that he was cut off, she said she couldn't be sure it was Glaspy who was being addressed.
She also said that she didn't find any of Glaspy's behaviour offensive, nor that he was disturbing anyone as Lemieux replayed video of Glaspy dancing and leaning into the stage where a band was playing.
When the Crown asked Gallant to recount what she saw after the altercation, she said that from her table she saw Frenette lying on the ground.
"He was down and there was blood coming out of his ears," she said, adding that he was shaking aggressively.
Around this time in Gallant's testimony, Frenette's wife and daughter left the courtroom, both in tears. Members of Glaspy's family were also in court.
Gallant said she eventually got up, cleared the area around Frenette, and told the band to stop playing.
She said she heard Glaspy walk back into the space and say, "This is not done, this is not done."
Later, during cross-examination, Gallant clarified, saying she wasn't certain if Glaspy or a security guard or someone else had said those words.
The Crown intends to call additional witnesses on Friday as the four-week trial continues.
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