Ten years ago, Oak Bay police investigated the mysterious death of 31-year-old University of Victoria student Owen Padmore and found no evidence of foul play.
On Tuesday, the suburban Victoria detachment revealed that investigators have laid manslaughter charges against a 38-year-old man in connection with Mr. Padmore's death.
Oak Bay police Constable Laurence Riel said on Tuesday that the detachment quietly reopened the case after an unidentified individual came forward with new information two years ago.
"This was not related to any other criminal investigation, this was someone who approached us voluntarily," Constable Riel said.
The renewed investigation led to the arrest, March 3, of three Greater Victoria men, two of whom were released without charges. The accused, from Oak Bay, was released on a promise appear in court June 23. The suspect's name will not be released until the Crown decides whether to approve the charges police have recommended, some time in the next few weeks.
Mr. Riel was unable to confirm reports that the three suspects who were arrested last week were at Mr. Padmore's home when he suffered the fatal injuries.
The renewed investigation had to be kept secret to protect the integrity of it, he added. "We want to make sure we safeguard the witnesses and ensure we have a fair judicial process," Constable Riel said.
Information about the relationship of the accused and the victim is being withheld by investigators for the same reason, he added.
Mr. Padmore, who studied art history at UVic and had a passion for Islamic culture, died on Dec. 11, 2001 after being rushed to Victoria General Hospital in an ambulance.
The cause of death was determined to be a head wound, but police were unable to determine what caused his injuries.
In December, 2002, Mr. Padmore's family established a memorial fund in his memory, through the UVic History in Art program, earmarked for the purchase of books on Islamic art and architecture.
Mr. Padmore's mother Jeannie, a Victoria resident, was unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Former University of Victoria professor Nancy Micklewright, who taught Mr. Padmore, described him as "bright" and "charming" and said family members always felt the case left a lot of unanswered questions.
"I don't think they were ever very happy with what they knew," said Ms. Micklewright, who now works at the Sackler Gallery of Art in Washington.
"I'm not saying it's how the police handled it," she said. "But it was such a shock and one always wants to know more. I'm glad the police are making progress."
Special to The Globe and Mail