Cooper Nemeth's accused killer, Nicholas Bell-Wright, was on probation at time of arrest

A 22-year-old mancharged with second-degree murder, after Winnipeg teenager Cooper Nemeth's body was found in a garbagebin, was on probationat the time of his arrest for an assault dating back to October2014.

Nicholas Bell-Wrightwas arrested early Sunday morning in The Maples neighbourhood of Winnipeg.The body of 17-year-oldNemethwas foundSaturday night behind a houseonBayne Crescent in the city's East Kildonan area.

Bell-Wright has one prior conviction for assault based on an incidentthat occurred on Oct. 24, 2014, according to court documents.Audio recorded during hisJuly2015 hearing reveals theassault took place in a field on the grounds of River East Collegiate.

Bell-Wright spotted his niece talking toa16-year-old boy.The boy was with another teen at the timewho has an intellectual disability.

'Serious assault'

At the time, Crown attorney Kerri Anderson saidaccording to statements given to police, Bell-Wright grabbed the 16-year-old boy,threw him to the ground, punched him in the face and stomach.

He thenthrew the victim against a tree and said,"If I ever see your face in this area again, I'm going to cut your head off," Anderson said.

There's no excuse for you assaulting a 16-year-old boy.- Judge MargaretWiebe

Based on audio from the sentencing hearing, court also heard thevictim suffered a cut to his face below the eyebrow,with provincial court Judge Margaret Wiebe characterizing the situationasa "serious assault."

CamPauls, Bell-Wright's defence attorney at the time, said his client regretted and apologized for his behaviour. Bell-Wright asked the court for a lenient, conditional release, citing his previously spotless criminal record.

But Judge Wiebe did not grant the conditional release.Instead, Bell-Wrightreceived a suspended sentence that included oneyear of supervised probation.

"There's no excuse for you assaulting a 16-year-old boy," Wiebe told Bell-Wright at the sentencing hearing last summer.

"You, as a 21-year-old, went after a 16-year-old.I'm not prepared to give a conditional discharge."

Wiebe told Bell-Wright he neededto attend counselling to help managehis anger as part of the rehabilitation process. She alsoimposed the condition that he isnot to have contact with the victim.

Timeline of Nemeth disappearance

Nemeth went missing Feb. 14 after last being seen at a house party one streetfrom where he was found.

• Hundreds search for missing Winnipeg teen Cooper James Nemeth
• Nicholas Bell-Wright, 22, arrested in Cooper Nemeth death
• Cooper Nemeth's friends mourn death of Winnipeg teen

The owner of the Bayne Crescent home was not involved in the homicide,but called police after findingitems scattered in their yard and seeing legs coming out of a trash bin.

Police believeNemethwas killed at another location and moved to that home.

Bell-Wright was living a few blocks away, in a public housing unit on Treger Bay. On Friday, police gathered evidence in plastic bags and towed a car from behind that residence.

They have not saidwhere they believe Nemethdied, or how he was killed.

Bell-Wright said nothing as he appeared in court for the first timeMonday via video link.His case has been held over until March 4.