Accused in Moncton manslaughter trial says he 'retaliated' after manager shoved him
Michael Glaspy, a 53-year-old from Riverview, is on trial in the death of Rodney Frenette, 56, who was a food and beverage manager at Casino New Brunswick when he died in March 2023.
Glaspy told the jury Wednesday that he swung at Frenette in retaliation after Frenette shoved him first.
The physical altercation caused Frenette to fall backward and hit his head on the floor. He died 24 days later in a Moncton hospital.
The Crown called several witnesses over the past two weeks who recounted how Glaspy had been told he was cut off for drinking too much at the Hub City Pub inside the casino, in the early hours of March 4.
The defence opened and closed its case on Wednesday, calling two witnesses, including Glaspy, who began by describing how his evening at the casino started.
Glaspy said he had whisky and a shot of tequila at the bar with his girlfriend, Felicia MacDonald. He testified they sat at the bar and also danced. He also said he'd had wine and whisky at two other restaurants, and wine at home earlier in the night.
Glaspy said he "had some words" with a man at the bar whom he didn't name. He remembers the man telling him he was going to be thrown out of the casino.
Glaspy then identified Frenette in surveillance footage shown to the jury and said he was pointing and yelling at him while he was seated at the bar. Glaspy said he got up, grabbed his jacket and drink and walked over to Frenette on the other side of the bar.
"I said to Mr. Frenette that I was leaving and that I was going to go get my girlfriend," Glaspy testified, adding that Frenette told him he couldn't get her and he'd have to leave right away.
Glaspy said Frenette was "abrupt and intimidating — stern" and shoved him first.
"I retaliated," Glaspy said, specifying that he swung at Frenette but did not land the punch.
At this point in his testimony, Frenette's daughter quickly walked out of the courtroom. Frenette's widow had already left.
Glaspy continued, saying he remembers people surrounding them during the altercation, and someone had an "arm around my neck."
When asked how Frenette ended up on the floor, Glaspy shrugged his shoulders and quickly shook his head back and forth.
"He must have fell," he said. "I don't know what happened."
Glaspy said he has little recollection of what happened after the altercation. He said he does remember "pressure" being put on his back, having a hard time breathing, and feeling as if was going to pass out when security guards later detained him in the casino lobby.
During cross-examination, the Crown referred to a statement Glaspy gave to police after his arrest. They asked him whether it was true that, "in your own words, you drank more than you should have?"
In the witness box, Glaspy let out a long exhale, paused and said, "Yes."
Before Glaspy testified, the defence also called MacDonald, who has been referred to as Glaspy's girlfriend.
Previous testimony from Crown witnesses described her as intoxicated and loud that night, which MacDonald agreed with during her testimony.
She told the jury she and Glaspy, whom she's known for 10 years, began drinking around 4:30 p.m. on March 3 and continued drinking into the morning of March 4.
She said she does not recall the altercation but remembers being on the dance floor most of the night.
She said they were both "in a celebratory mood" because they had r.ecently discussed their future together and talked about getting married.
In his brief opening statement, defence lawyer Gilles Lemieux said he only intended to call those two witnesses.
"Let me show you the other side," he told the jury.
With both the Crown and the defence cases now closed, Justice Christa Bourque of the Court of King's Bench told the jurors to return Friday, when both sides will deliver their closing statements.
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