Fred Parsons was stabbed to death at this section of the Maffeo Sutton Park playground on Sept. 5, 2022 at around 11:30 p.m. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

High profile case

Fatal Maffeo Sutton Park stabbing case proceeds to Supreme Court trial

May 9, 2023 | 5:19 AM

NANAIMO — An apparent random late night fatal stabbing on Nanaimo’s waterfront last Labour Day weekend will be heard in a future BC Supreme Court trial.

The accused, Mark Jayden Harrison and Aiden Matthew William Bell, are both charged with manslaughter in connection to the death of 29-year-old Fred Parsons on Sept. 5, 2022 at Maffeo Sutton Park’s playground.

Following a full day day-long preliminary inquiry on Monday, May 8 in provincial court in Nanaimo the case was officially advanced to the high court.

Evidence presented during the hearing is protected by a standard court-ordered publication ban to protect the integrity of future proceedings.

Both of the accused attended the hearing in-person, while family and friends of the deceased were also in the gallery.

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Aiden Bell leaves court during a break in Monday’s preliminary inquiry. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The case will be on the Supreme Court list on Monday, May 29 however it’s unclear when a trial will be heard.

Harrison and Bell are represented by separate lawyers.

At the time, Nanaimo RCMP stated a small group of people were approached by group of young people where a confrontation broke out late on the evening of Sept. 5, 2022. Police said bear spray was unleashed toward Parsons’ group.

Following the incident which saw Parsons stabbed, he was transported to Nanaimo hospital where he was declared deceased.

Parsons had developmental disabilities, as did his two friends with him at the park.

Harrison was originally charged with second degree murder, while Bell was charged with a pair of weapons offences.

Those charges were changed in November after the BC Prosecution Service stated it received additional information as the police investigation continued.

Harrison was denied interim release privileges during a March 1 bail hearing in Nanaimo.

He has a long youth record dating back to 2019 with five convictions for crimes of violence and 15 breaches of court orders.

Harrison has been in custody at the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre in Saanich for the past eight months.

Bell, who was previously granted bail, has no criminal record.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes