Saskatchewan man pleads guilty in deadly Manitoba bowling alley attack

A Saskatchewan man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the beating death of Zachary Straughan in the small city of Winkler, Man.

Justin Bird, 29, entered the plea in a courtroom in Portage la Prairie, Man., on Thursday morning.

Straughan died last September after a fight broke out at a bowling alley in Winkler, a city of about 15,000 people located 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

Bird attacked Straughan with a pool cue, police said.

• 'He didn't just take one life': Girlfriend of man killed over $16 tab hoping for guilty plea, long sentence
• Charge upgraded to manslaughter for bowling alley attack

Both men were from Saskatoon but were in Winkler as part of a work crew. Police said they got into "an argument over a small unpaid bill" that turned violent.

Straughan's girlfriend, Ashley Hague, told CBC News that the fight was over a $16 bar tab.

She said Straughan had three kids from a previous marriage and was set on building a new life.

At the time of his death, Hague was pregnant. She has since given birth to a baby girl.

Hauge told CBC News in May that she hoped for a guilty plea and harsh sentence.

"It's doubtful that [he] will get 10 years, but I at least hope that he gets a little bit of time to realize that $16 isn't worth taking somebody's life," she said.

A sentencing hearing is expected to be held in fall.