In early Jan. 2020, 31-year-old Tyson Lafonde was allegedly assaulted by three people. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Violent assault at Prince Albert jail, contributes to man’s death 13 months later: court

Oct 5, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Editor’s note: the following story contains graphic details

A man who was assaulted in his cell at the Prince Albert Correctional Centre was under medical care for over a year before his family made the tough decision to take him off life support.

That was among the facts heard on Thursday at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert after one of three men charged with the murder of Tyson Lafonde entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Kyle Thurston Bear was seen leaving Lafonde’s cell just moments after the assault occurred on Jan. 16, 2020.

Crown Prosecutor MaryAnne Larson explained Lafonde had just returned to his cell after making himself a sandwich in the kitchen. He was allegedly attacked by three people and Bear had been seen earlier putting on black rubber gloves.

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“There was blood on the floor and the wall,” Larson read, describing the jail cell.

Tyson Lafonde’s obituary picture. (Beau Lac Funeral Home)

Following the assault, Lafonde, who suffered a significant head injury as well as facial lacerations, was initially transported by ambulance to hospital in Prince Albert, before being transferred to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

A few days later he would undergo an operation to relieve pressure on the brain. The following week, he received a tracheotomy due to his difficulties breathing.

In March 2020, Lafonde was transferred back to Prince Albert and would subsequently stay at the Herb Bassett care home. At this time he required 24-hour care as he was unable to feed himself, walk, and had very minimal communication.

The following February, after being informed by doctors that the prognosis going forward was not good, Lafonde’s family made the decision to take him off life support. Lafonde passed away on Feb. 15, 2021.

The autopsy ruled the official cause of death to be pneumonia, with the head injury listed as an underlying factor.

Kyle Bear leaving Court of King’s Bench on Thursday. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Kyle Bear’s case has been adjourned to Jan. 5, to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be completed.

Meanwhile, Bruce Allan Napope and George Samuel Custer, are awaiting trial with dates of Oct. 30 to Nov. 24 being confirmed during a pre-trial conference last May.

Following the short hearing on Thursday, Lafonde’s family exited the courtroom and passed by Bear who was sitting in a chair talking to his lawyer.

Bear was overheard offering an apology, and Lafonde’s mother broke down in tears.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell