Attorney says no evidence to charge suspect in deadly Tigerland bar fight

John Rupolo
·2 min read

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Suspended LSU student, 21-year-old Matthew Marsiglia, left town, according to court documents, after he was charged with manslaughter in connection to the death of 26-year-old Devin Repath.

On March 23, Marsiglia and Repath got into a fight outside of Fred’s Bar and Grill in Tigerland. Repath’s death was ruled a homicide.

We spoke with Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney, Ron Haley, about the case after showing him the probable cause affidavit.

“Should he have been charged with manslaughter?” asked BRProud investigative reporter John Rupolo.

“I don’t believe so. I don’t believe there is probable cause for him to be arrested,” said Haley.

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According to that probable cause affidavit we obtained, there were two groups of men speaking to each other. According to the affidavit, Repath walked behind several of his friends and punched a person in the head. Another person charged at Repath but was restrained by friends.

A short time later, Repath was seen on surveillance video exchanging words with Marsiglia and another person. Repath took a swing at Marsiglia, but he dodged it.

Marsiglia, then, shoved Repath with both hands causing him to fall and strike his head on the pavement. Three days later, Repath died from his injuries.

“We have the deceased in this case appearing based on what’s being presented in the affidavit probable cause as the aggressor of not one but two, um, separate occasions,” said Haley.

Haley says it’s a classic case of self-defense.

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“It seems more like a freak accident even though the actions of both parties, you know, were intentional. I believe one is clearly in self-defense,” said Haley.

Marsiglia was suspended from LSU after his arrest. He requested to leave the state to work as a ranch hand for a family member in Mississippi.

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