SASKATOON – Crown prosecutors have stayed a manslaughter charge against a Saskatoon woman accused in the death of another woman in a fight at a nightclub that was caught on video and shared on social media.
Paige Theriault-Fisher, 22, was originally charged with second-degree murder in the Nov. 5, 2022, death of Hodan Hashi at Lit Nightclub, but that charge was later downgraded to manslaughter.
The Ministry of Justice said in a statement that Public Prosecutions determined it was a “mutual fight” and the death was an accident caused by broken glass lying on the floor of the nightclub. It said there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction.
“Public Prosecutions knows the conclusion is disappointing for many,” the statement said. “The decision not to move forward with criminal proceedings in this situation does not lessen the tragedy or seriousness of what has occurred.”
The decision was criticized by some people online who pointed out that Hashi was Black and her family will not see justice.
Her sister, Fartun Hashi, posted on social media that she was “sad, angry and outraged.”
“My sister will not be receiving any justice. What if the roles were reversed?” Fartun Hashi wrote.
Theriault-Fisher said she was still processing the Crown’s decision, but expects a lot of healing will be needed.
“This is probably the toughest thing I’ve gone through in my life and will be the toughest thing,“ Theriault-Fisher said at a news conference Wednesday in her lawyer’s Regina office.
She warned other people to be careful when they are out at bars, and expressed her sympathies to Hashi’s family.
“This was never meant to happen,” Theriault-Fisher said through tears.
“If I could give everything back, I would take that day back. And I really do wish Hodan was with us today.”
Theriault-Fisher was advised not to speak about the night of the fight as the Hashi family have filed a civil lawsuit.
Theriault-Fisher’s lawyer, Sharon Fox, said she can appreciate the frustration. But, she said, the videos shared online don’t capture everything that happened the night of the fight, which she described as a “perfect storm” of unfortunate events.
“Sometimes the correct decision is not the popular decision.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2023.
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