Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in the death of CBC producer

A Toronto man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of longtime CBC News producer Michael Finlay.

Robert Robin Cropearedwolf, 45, pleaded guilty in a Toronto courtroom Thursday, according to court documents. He turned himself in to authorities in February after police issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with Finlay's death, police have said.

He's scheduled to appear in court in July.

Police previously said Finlay, 73, was walking along Danforth Avenue in the area of Jones Avenue in January of 2023, when Cropearedwolf approached and assaulted him.

Finlay fell to the ground and died in hospital a week later, after which the homicide unit took over the investigation.

Last year, Toronto police Det. Jason Hillier said police had no indication Cropearedwolf and Finlay knew one another, calling the incident "a chance encounter."

In an email sent to staff last year, Cathy Perry, an executive director with CBC News, said Finlay will be remembered as an exceptional storyteller, documentary maker and editor.

Finlay travelled the world to produce radio documentaries for a number of programs, including Sunday Morning.

"If you worked on a documentary with Michael, you were experiencing the pinnacle of the craft," Perry's email said.