Former NHL player charged in hunting death

Updated A former member of the Boston Bruins and a prominent member of the Six Nations community is facing charges in a deadly weekend hunting accident.

Six Nations police say today that they charged Stan Jonathan, 57, with criminal negligence causing death. He was arrested at his Six Nations home this morning, had a court appearance in Brantford, and then was released on bail.

Jonathan played for the Boston Bruins through the 70s and retired in the early 80s and according to some was one of Don Cherry’s favourite players. His nickname was Bulldog and he was known for his aggressiveness.

CHCH News was at his house today and he declined to come to the door. His cousin next door didn’t want to talk about it either. One of Jonathan’s brothers, a Six Nations band councillor, reportedly underwent heart surgery last night.

Jonathan is now accused of fatally shooting Hamilton father Peter Kosid, 28, in the back on Sunday from a road about 400 metres away. Kosid had been bow hunting on a friend’s property.

CHCH News spoke with Rocki Smith, the deputy chief of Six Nations police, who says this arrest is having a big impact on the community. “These guys here are hunters all their lives and they know all the safety precautions that should be taken. I think it may be a bit of an awakening for the community, that the type of hunting they do is no longer suitable for the area.”

Peter’s fiancee, Sabina Marrone: “Peter was between the road and the bush, in the open. The shooter, I can’t say his name because he doesn’t seem like a person to me, the shooter drove his car, got out of his car, and took a shot.”

“I intend to be at every one of the trials, with my babies, so he can see what he’s destroyed.”

Sabina Marrone says she’s been told that Jonathan hasn’t gotten any special treatment, but she feels that he should have been charged with manslaughter, because she feels the negligence was intentional.

There is a funeral for Kosid on Monday, and the family is still deciding whether to make the details public.

When CHCH News was there today people were stopping by with food and boxes of diapers to help Sabina with eight month old Robbie and four year old Ava.

Jonathan’s next court appearance is December 14th.

Video: Lisa Hepfner reports: