Anthony Getschel was originally charged with second degree murder in relation to the hit and run death of Ryan Jimmo.
Former UFC fighter Ryan Jimmo was killed on June 26, 2016 after he was run over by a truck in a parking lot outside of the H2O Lounge on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He was 34 years old and had recently asked his girlfriend to marry him.
Witnesses stated that Jimmo had been involved in an altercation with two men outside of a bar and that the veteran fighter had turned and walked away. Witnesses said that’s when a pick-up truck carrying those men accelerated and struck Jimmo before fleeing from the scene.
Within a week of Jimmo’s death Edmonton police arrested Anthony Getschel, 25, and Jordan Wagner, 23. Getshel was charged with second degree murder and criminal negligence causing death. Wagner was charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
Getschel originally pleaded not guilty to second degree murder. Today Getchsel plead guilty to lesser charges of manslaughter and hit and run in an Edmonton courtroom (per CBC News).
According to an agreed statement of facts, Getschel admitted that he was partying and drinking at the Cook County Saloon with his friend and girlfriend on the night of Jimmo’s death. Getschel and his friend left that bar after fighting with other patrons and then drove away with Getschel’s girlfriend.
After this Getschel drove up behind Jimmo’s Jeep on Whyte Avenue and followed it into the parking lot outside of H2O Lounge. The statement of agreed facts stated that Jimmo and his fiancée believed Getschel was driving aggressively and that this caused Jimmo to pull over and then approach Getschel’s car.
Jimmo slapped the window of Getschel’s truck and yelled at the occupants, challenging them to a fight, according to the agreed statement of facts. After the confrontation Jimmo walked back to his jeep, but turned around when he heard someone shout something from the truck.
At this point, Getschel accelerated the truck and steered it toward the Jeep. The truck hopped two curbs before striking Jimmo and dragging him along the ground. Getschel confessed that he knew he hit Jimmo before quickly driving out of the parking lot and away from the scene.
Jimmo was conscious, but seriously injured, after being struck by Getschel. He was attended to by paramedics on the scene and was then transported to a hospital. He died in an emergency room approximately 35 minutes after being hit.
Getschel, who has no prior criminal record, will be sentenced on December 3rd. In Canada manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment for life. There are no minimum penalties for manslaughter cases which do not involve a firearm.
Getschel’s agreement and court appearance did not reveal any new information regarding Wagner and the charges against him. Wagner is considered innocent of all charges until proven guilty.