(photos: Finlay, left, and Marfice, right)
Coeur d'Alene Police arrested a 21-year-old Rathdrum man for Aggravated Battery after an altercation early Sunday morning in downtown Coeur d'Alene, which would later prove fatal.
Police were called to the 300 block of N. 4th Street early Sunday morning for a report of a fight. Officers arrived to find 29-year-old Jeffrey Marfice with a significant head injury. Marfice was taken to the hospital and rushed into emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
Detectives found the suspect, Tyler Finlay, who admitted to punching Marfice one time. That blow, according to witnesses, caused Marfice to fall to the ground and hit his head on the pavement.
Doctors worked to stabilize Marfice's condition, however, he was pronounced dead Monday morning.
Marfice's girlfriend, with whom he has a 2-month-old child, and his ex-wife, with whom he has a 6-year-old daughter, spoke to KHQ reporter Adam Mayer and said Marfice was defending them when he was sucker-punched by Finlay. Hear from them tonight on KHQ Local News at 6.
Finlay was arrested for Aggravated Battery. He made his first court appearance Monday afternoon to face an amended charge of Manslaughter. His bail was set at $250,000.
(story and photos: KHQ.com)