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Guilty verdict in nightclub assault

Two Kelowna men who organized a setup which sent a man to the hospital were found guilty yesterday.
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Two Kelowna men who organized a setup which sent a man to the hospital were found guilty after a lengthy court case, March 2.

Steve Kaplan and Kyle O’Brien were both charged with aggravated assault for their involvement in a 2014 fight outside Sapphire Nightclub.

O’Brien was a bouncer at Sapphire night club and was found guilty of a lesser offence of common assault.

On Sept. 6, 2014, O’Brien removed a man from the club, carrying him by his head, with his feet dangling off of the ground, and pushed him from the entrance, towards Kaplan and another man who proceeded to punch the victim, knocking him unconscious, said the judge.

O’Brien watched the assault but did not offer assistance.

The fight resulted in a fractured skull for the victim, who spent two weeks in a coma following the incident.

Steven Kollie, the third man involved in the assault was found guilty last year of aggravated assault and was sentenced to five years.

Both men are expected back in court on March 27 to fix a date for sentencing.