— RCMP looks at earlier assault as possible cause of death —

(OSOYOOS TIMES — Sept. 12, 2007) —

While questions into the mysterious death of Osoyoos resident Gary Scott Knight continue, those who knew him continue to grieve.
Knight collapsed and died outside the Lady on the Lake Pub on Aug. 29, three days after he suffered an assault in the same area. An RCMP probe into the assault and Knight's death continue.
Nicole Dubasov is bar manager at Lady on the Lake. She was one of the last people to see Knight alive when she closed the bar that night. Dubasov said Knight had been in for a few drinks, as per his regular routine.
He was in here every day, sometimes twice a day, sometimes maybe you wouldn't see him for a few days, but he was definitely a regular, she said.
Dubasov's parents bought the Lady on Lake just a year ago, but she said Knight had been a patron for a number of years.
A good five, at least, she estimated.
Dubasov describes Knight as a bit of a loner who would sit at the bar, have a beer, play Pool Tabs (an electronic betting game) or talk with bar staff or other patrons.
She said Knight was always friendly and congenial while at Lady on the Lake, though she'd heard rumours his behaviour was not always so tame.
I've heard he could be nasty or mean sometimes, she said. But I never saw anything like that.
Dubasov recalled a time not long ago when Knight won $1,000 at Pool Tabs.
He was so excited, she recalled. He just always wanted to talk to someone about his day.
Dubasov said the reaction of Lady's staff to Knight's death was shock.
Everyone was really upset, she said, glancing at the entranceway. It's hard, when you expect him to be coming through the door.
She noted, though, that some other members of the community have said they weren't surprised by the grim series of events.
However, Dubasov said there was no obvious sign that Knight had been hanging out with a nefarious crowd.
Last Saturday, Lady on the Lake held a memorial party for Knight. Dubasov said attendees gave their condolences and sympathy cards to Knight's mother, who was in attendance, and one of Knight's friends played a song he'd written.
He was a good person, he really was, she said, holding back tears.
While RCMP continue to investigate Knight's death “ along with the BC Coroner's Office and the South East District Major Crime Unit “ the police say they fear the mysterious incident may become a cold case file.