A Maple Ridge man who lost his best friend to violence is raising funds for the two children the victim left behind.
“We’re living a nightmare for the last couple of weeks,” said Kris Robb. “It’s been weighing on me.”
His brother Darcy Robb, 45, has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Kris’ best friend, Sean Spring, after an altercation at his home back on March 16. Kris was away at the time.
Ridge Meadows RCMP officers were called to Kris Robb’s home on 110 Avenue after neighbours heard screams coming from the garage.
Police responded to what they called a fight in progress.
They arrived to find Spring, 49, in medical distress. Despite the work of paramedics, Spring died from his injuries. The cause of his death has not been revealed by police.
Darcy Robb remained at the scene, and was taken into custody. After analysis by the Integration Homicide Investigation Team, he was charged with manslaughter on March 23.
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Kris works in Fort Saint John, and said his brother was living on the streets, and was not welcome at his home while he was away. Police had been called to remove him from the property earlier in the week.
On March 16, his wife Nassaya had again denied Darcy entry.
There had apparently been vandalism to Kris’ truck, and a gate to the yard was kicked in. Nassaya was afraid and called Spring, “a great friend,” for help.
“He came to secure the house and make sure everything was OK,” said Kris. “That’s the kind of person he was.”
Spring told Nassaya to go inside the house and lock the doors.
An altercation followed between Spring and Darcy Robb, that police say resulted in Spring’s death.
Pipefitter by trade, Spring left behind a 13-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter who are now living with their grandmother.
He loved salmon fishing and taking his children with him to local rivers.
Kris explained Spring had been in a car accident, was not able to work, and had accumulated heavy debts.
Given Spring’s financial difficulties and the fact that his elderly mother must deal with funeral expenses – not to mention now raising her grandchildren, Kris has taken it upon himself to try to help.
He wants to make sure Spring’s children and mother have financial security. So, he has started an online fundraiser at gofundme.com that had raised almost $3,000 as of Tuesday afternoon, March 31.
If possible, Kris wants the kids to have funds set aside for their future, so they can pursue their dreams, he told The News.
Those charged with a criminal offence are considered not guilty until charges are proven in court. Manslaughter is a form of homicide that differs from murder in that the accused does not intend to cause death. The maximum penalty can be life imprisonment.