(BAY MINETTE, Ala.) - A man who allegedly killed one of his friends appeared in a Baldwin County court today. Michael Bain is charged with manslaughter in the death his longtime friend Daniel Tuttle. Daphne Police say the two had an argument inside a Daphne bar back in October.
Today we learned paramedics found Bain standing above Tuttle's unconscious body in the parking lot outside the Bay House pub later that night. Bain's attorney says he was defending himself. The manslaughter case against Michael Bain will remain. Bain, said nothing today, sitting still in court as investigators laid out what happened outside Daphne pub the night Tuttle died.
"This was nothing more than a tragic accident these two young men were friends they were out celebrating the victims birthday it was an altercation. The victim approached my client in a vehicle and he had an absolute right to defend himself, which is what he did, " said Bain's attorney Megan Doggett. Defense council wanted a lesser charge of negligent homicide but the judge today ruled there was enough evidence to ask a grand jury to look into the case further.
Tuttles's family members say in a case like this nobody wins. "We really want to thank everyone for everything that they've done and all the support and love that they've sent out since Daniel has been gone, " said Daniel Tuttle's sister in law Jessie Tuttle.
Evidence in court today points to an ongoing argument between Tuttle and Bain who was concerned his friend had been unfaithful to his wife. Police say the night Tuttle was beat to death, he and Bain had been drinking and fought over the issue. "There's no evidence that came out in that hearing that Mr. Tuttle ever threw a punch.The evidence was exclusively in that hearing that the defendant threw the first punch, every punch in between and the last punch, " said Assistant D.A. Matt Seymore.
Tuttle leaves behind a wife and a six year old son. It's now up to a grand jury to decide if Bain will stand trial.
