Zachary Gaudette provoked the altercation that killed him outside a Kelowna Cactus Club, says a witness to the incident.

Tyson Attwood testified at the manslaughter trial for Cory Richard Eric Van Gilder, Tuesday explaining he was outside the Banks Road restaurant with friends Feb. 17, 2016 when an 害羞草研究所渁ngry man害羞草研究所� approached, spewing obscenities.

害羞草研究所�(He was) throwing his arms up in a challenging manner,害羞草研究所� said Attwood, who testified he害羞草研究所檇 had a 害羞草研究所渇ew drinks害羞草研究所� at that time.

Attwood told jurors that Gaudette had stripped off his outer layer of clothing before approaching the crowd to pick a fight.

害羞草研究所淗e was constantly yelling害羞草研究所擨害羞草研究所檓 pretty sure he was trying to egg us on 害羞草研究所� he was just being challenging,害羞草研究所� said Attwood, adding later that his 害羞草研究所渁drenaline was pumping害羞草研究所� and he was sure a fight would ensue.

Then, Attwood told jurors, Van Gilder emerged from the crowd and got into the space between the crowd and Gaudette.

Van Gilder, Attwood said, was not much bigger than Gaudette, though he was stockier and had a 害羞草研究所渂it of a gut.害羞草研究所�

There were no words said and then Van Gilder struck.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 remember which hand he hit him with 害羞草研究所� it might have been his right hand. It was just a straight forward punch,害羞草研究所� he said, later adding that it seemed clear that he didn害羞草研究所檛 throw his full mite into impact.

Attwood said that Gaudette害羞草研究所檚害羞草研究所檚 reaction is what surprised him most about the altercation.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e never seen anyone react like that 害羞草研究所� usually when people get knocked out they convulse. He was convulsing a little .. but he was frozen. I looked into his eyes and something was going on,害羞草研究所� he said.

Another one of his friends took Gaudette害羞草研究所檚 pulse, one more ran to call an ambulance and Attwood went to go get his clothes that he害羞草研究所檇 left behind when he first approached the group.

Gaudette was taken to hospital in serious condition and succumbed to his injuries two days later.

The jury trial is scheduled for nine days and started on Monday.

kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
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