Ex-MMA fighter from Kelowna charged with manslaughter for Cactus Club one punch death
KELOWNA – A local man with a single professional MMA fight has been charged with manslaughter for allegedly killing an Ontario tourist with one punch outside a Kelowna Cactus Club earlier this year.
Cory Richard Eric Van Gilder, 26, has been charged with manslaughter after he and Zachary Gaudette, 30, got into what police call an “altercation” outside the Banks Road restaurant at around 9 p.m. on Feb. 17. Gaudette was taken to hospital in serious condition and succumbed to his injuries two days later.
A family member said on Facebook he was involved in a fight that ended quickly.
"One punch later and he was on life support," she said.
RCMP said they had a suspect in mind at the time but refused to release his name. Court records show Gilder has been charged with manslaughter and the offence date is listed as Feb. 17 in Kelowna.
Gilder has one professional MMA fight six years ago for King of the Cage in Edmonton where he won by forcing Ken Kerfront into submission with strikes in the first round. He has no club affiliation and no professional fights before or since.
He has a minor record including a driving while impaired charge from 2014 and driving without a licence and using an electronic device while driving from 2015.
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