Winnipeg dad dies after birthday party assault

Last Updated: Sunday, March 28, 2010 | 2:25 PM CT
The Canadian Press

A Winnipeg father of five has died in hospital after being assaulted by an uninvited guest who crashed his daughter's 18th birthday party early Saturday.

Family members identified the man who died as Garth Isfeld, 44, who they say got into a fight with a man who'd been asked to leave.

They said Isfeld was struck over the head with a beer bottle as he stepped in to protect another daughter from the man.

Isfeld had a barbecue to celebrate the birthday of his daughter, Stephanie Krasnesky, after recently moving into the small home in the north Winnipeg neighbourhood.

Police were called to the house around 12:30 a.m. Family members said Isfeld was rushed to hospital, where he developed blood clots and died.

Elia Bevacqua, Isfled's sister-in-law, saw the assault happen. “Beer-bottled him in the head and he just dropped,” she said.

His daughter Stephanie curled up in a chair and sobbed, her family leaning over to touch and hug her as she spoke about the traumatic experience.

“I just seen him on the ground and he was rolling his eyes back in,” she cried. “There was so much blood everywhere. I just grabbed a pillow and put it around his head.”

Neighbours said the party got rowdy and people could be heard screaming, telling a man to leave.

Several people who were at the home when the fight happened are being interviewed.

Police are investigating. No charges have been laid.

Randall Krasnesky, 22, holding his sister's hand, said he'll do everything he can to support the remaining children who've been left without a father.

“They got me and I'll look after them,” he said.

From: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/03/27/winnipeg-dad027.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r4:c0.141906:b32291426