An Assumption Parish jury found a Paincourtville man guilty of manslaughter May 7, the district attorney announced.
According to a news release from 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky Babin, 41-year-old Charles Fair was found guilty in connection with the 2024 death of 35-year-old Donald Ray Tunson Jr.
Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a pre-sentence investigation, per the release.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle prosecuted the case and Judge Steven Tureau presided.
According to the release, Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the Grant Road area Jan. 1, 2024, in reference to reported domestic abuse.
Deputies contacted a female who had been physically assaulted by the defendant, the release continued.
Advertisement
A short distance away, deputies found the body of a man who was identified as Tunson, according to the report.
Detectives learned during the investigation that the female had arrived at the residence accompanied by Tunson to drop of a child she shared with Fair, the release continued.
Investigators reported in the release that Fair tried to enter the vehicle and began striking the female when Tunson attempted to assist her when he was stabbed in the upper torso.
Tunson began to flee when he collapsed in front of a neighboring residence and died of his injuries from the single stab wound, the report said.
Per the district attorney, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Fair, who turned himself in and was booked into the parish detention center.
The release also noted that prior to the beginning of the trial, Fair entered a guilty plea to one count of domestic abuse battery with child endangerment.
This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen:DA: Paincourtville man convicted of manslaughter in stabbing death
