Suspect in West End slaying convicted of manslaughter in fatal 2016 stabbing

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This article was published 16/04/2024 (895 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man wanted in the late February slaying of a 26-year-old in the West End was previously convicted of manslaughter in a 2016 killing.

Kevin Delaney Flett, 26, was found badly injured near Maryland Street and Wellington Avenue at about 11:20 p.m. on Feb. 25. Flett, a member of St. Theresa Point First Nation, was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.

Tyron Custer Harper, 30, is wanted for second-degree murder, the Winnipeg Police Service said Tuesday. He remains at large.

Harper was originally charged with second-degree murder in the December 2016 killing of Clarence Ignace, 25.

Ignace was found with stab wounds in an apartment at the public housing complex at 444 Kennedy St. at about 11 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2016. He later died in hospital.

Harper, who was quickly identified by homicide detectives as their suspect, was arrested a few weeks later.

In June 2018, Harper pleaded guilty in the Court of King’s Bench to the lesser offence of manslaughter. He was sentenced to seven years — less time served — which amounted to about four years and eight months going forward, court records show.

Harper was also banned from owning weapons for life and ordered to surrender a DNA sample to law enforcement.

He pleaded guilty in provincial court in March 2023 to one count of being unlawfully at large in October 2022. Harper was sentenced to 39 days in jail.

Police have asked anyone with information on Harper’s whereabouts to call homicide detectives at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca