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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Charges upgraded for accused in deadly West End brawl

Girl, 17, charged with first-degree murder

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 08/25/2011 1:00 AM

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

Police identification markers dot the scene of a fatal brawl on Garfield Street North.

CHARGES against a 17-year-old girl have been upgraded to first-degree murder following a brawl on Garfield Street North last Saturday that resulted in one man's death.

The girl had previously been charged with manslaughter and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. That manslaughter charge was upgraded to first-degree murder after consultation between police and the Crown, officials said Wednesday.

Enlarge Image

Marcel Murdock

Marcel Murdock, a 40-year-old father of three who worked as a film crew member, died Saturday after being struck by one of the vehicles involved in the brawl. A minivan and a car repeatedly smashed into one another during the fighting.

The dispute broke out between a young couple and escalated until members of two families that had been socializing together were attacking one another with a bat, a shovel, sticks, bear spray and possibly knives, police have said.

Six people were transported to hospital with injuries, including Murdock. While three were later released from hospital, one man remains in critical condition and a woman is in stable condition, police said Wednesday.

Murdock described himself on Facebook as an "all-Canadian average boy" whose grown children were the most important thing in his life.

"They are the blood that flows through my veins," wrote Murdock. "I cannot breathe without them."

Murdock's cousin, Nancy Wilson, said her family is devastated by the loss.

"We've all cried our eyes out," she said.

-- staff

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 25, 2011 B1

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