Man charged with manslaughter in killing of fellow Drumheller Institution inmate

FILE RCMP vehicle logo in October, 2024. (Joanne Roberts, CityNews)

By CityNews Staff

Posted Dec 18, 2025 8:36 am.

A man has been charged with the killing of a fellow inmate at the Drumheller Institution last month.

RCMP say shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, officers responded to an assault complaint at the prison.

It was reported that one prisoner entered the cell of another and a fight ensued.

The victim was found unconscious a short time later by staff.

He was taken to a hospital in Calgary with serious life-threatening injuries.

The victim, 55-year-old Hue Nguyen, died as a result of his injuries on Dec. 13.

An autopsy completed by the Calgary Medical Examiner’s Office on Dec. 16 determined the matter of death to be homicide.

RCMP Major Crimes investigators arrested the suspect, 40-year-old Christopher Despins, at the Edmonton Institution on Dec. 17.

He has been charged with manslaughter.

Despins is set to make an appearance in a Drumheller courtroom on Jan. 9.

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