Woman accused in Saskatoon nightclub death granted bail

A Saskatchewan judge has granted bail for the 22-year-old woman charged in the death of a woman during an altercation at a Saskatoon nightclub.

Paige Theriault-Fisher faces a manslaughter charge in the death of 23-year-old Hodan Hashi at Saskatoon's Lit Nightclub on Sunday.

Theriault-Fisher was released with conditions on $5,000 bail. Her conditions forbid alcohol and drug consumption.

She can have no contact with the victim's immediate family or those who have shared videos of the altercation which led to Hashi's death. Theriault-Fisher must also adhere to a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

She appeared in court by video from Pinegrove Correctional Centre. The Crown did not oppose her release.

Crown prosecutor Frank Impey said there are three grounds in order to hold someone from bail. The grounds include whether the public will be in danger, if there’s risk of the accused reoffending and whether or not they will show up in court.

Impey said after looking at all the evidence that was given to police, the assessment was “quite clear” on all three grounds that the accused would be released.

Videos of the altercation that led to Hashi's death circulated online. In one of the videos, Hashi is seen bleeding extensively as she is punched.

Impey said while the public may see many “grainy” videos and people jump to conclusions about what occurred. He added police compiled a significant amount of evidence which led to the downgrade of charges from second-degree murder to manslaughter.

“I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the police made the correct decision. The circumstances do not warrant a charge of murder,” Impey said outside the courtroom.

Theriault-Fisher’s lawyer Sharon Fox said her client had “no intention” of the incident ever happening.

“Her heart and sympathies go out to the family of the deceased. She’s certainly traumatized, it’s an event that is going to affect two families going forward for the rest of their lives,” Fox said outside provincial court on Thursday.

“No family ever expects to have to bury a child and this is an unfortunate tragedy.”

Fox said as the investigation proceeds, she’s confident “the facts will demonstrate” that the altercation at the nightclub was an act of self-defence.

Other bail conditions for Theriault-Fisher include having her residence approved by a bail supervisor, maintaining employment, not mentioning the deceased or their family and witnesses on social media.

Theriault-Fisher will be back at provincial court on December 15.

 Theriault-Fisher was charged after police were called to the nightclub at 2:40 a.m. on Nov. 5 for reports of the woman suffering from “a serious injury.”

Officers and paramedics tried to save her life, but she was pronounced dead on the scene, according to police.

Theriault-Fisher was arrested at the club. She was originally charged with second-degree murder, but the charge was downgraded to manslaughter.Paige Theriault-Fisher faces a manslaughter charge in the death Hodan Hashi on Nov. 5 at Lit Nightclub in Saskatoon.

“As an investigation progresses, officers are constantly evaluating the information they are gathering,” a spokesperson with the Saskatoon Police Service told CTV News on Monday.

“In this case, that meant changing the charge.”

Police said Theriault-Fisher and the victim knew each other.

Hodan Hashi died following an altercation at a Saskatoon nightclub. (Facebook/Hodan Hashi)

Theriault-Fisher wore a white hoodie and glasses for her first appearance at Saskatoon Provincial Court on Monday. The Crown opposed her release from custody.

Hashi's family has started a GoFundMe page to cover the cost of transporting her body home to Ottawa.

"It is with great disbelief that we lost Hodan Hashi, our sister, daughter and cousin to violence," the fundraiser's description says.

"She was a kind, gentle, giving soul who would give the shirt off her back to anyone that needed it. She was loved by many and was willing to show the love the world had to give," the fundraiser says.

With files from Miriam-Valdes Carletti and Laura Woodward.