Teenager Charged With Manslaughter in School Rugby Death

by Rob Walker | December 6, 2007 at 05:00 pm | 691 views | add comment

This was a tragedy when it happened here a few months ago and has been pretty big news ever since. There's always been some speculation that there was more to this than a rugby feud.

A Mississauga teen is to be charged next week with manslaughter in the death of another boy during a high school rugby game last spring.

The teen, whose identity is protected by Canadian law, was informed of the charge last week, the Star has learned.

The 16-year-old athlete will be formally charged next Wednesday when he appears in a Brampton courtroom.

The Erindale Secondary School player was initially charged with aggravated assault after Manny Castillo, 15, a player with Lorne Park Secondary School, suffered a severe head injury during an on-field struggle May 7.

On May 11, Castillo died at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children.

It's unknown why it took so long for police to upgrade the charge but the case has been under investigation since the incident.