U.S. man charged with manslaughter in death of hunting mate in northwestern Quebec

ROUYN-NORANDA, Que. – An American man charged in the slaying of a fellow hunting mate in northwestern Quebec over the weekend is due back in court in late August.

John B. Tompkins, 50, was charged Monday with manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death and negligent use of a firearm.

He was released on $25,000 bail and under several conditions.

Tompkins, of Mednon, a suburb of Rochester, N.Y., is due back in a northwestern Quebec courtroom on Aug. 27.

Provincial police previously said Tompkins, was a companion of the 54-year-old victim, identified on the charge sheet as Todd Herrington.

Authorities were alerted at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday but the exact circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear.

The incident occurred in Bearn, about 650 kilometres northwest of Montreal in the province’s Abitibi-Temiscamingue region.