A 62-year-old Winnipeg man is accused of leaving his elderly mother on the floor to die after she fell and hurt herself.

The incident took place in November in the home Ron Siwicki shared with his 89-year-old mother in Winnipeg's Garden City.

Ron Siwicki, 62, allegedly let his mother die rather than calling for medical help when she fell in their Garden City home.

According to police, Siwicki's mother fell and was not able to get up on her own. He did not call for medical attention.

His lawyers say he covered his mother with a blanket and fed her nutritional drinks and water. She died five days later.

Siwicki is charged with criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessities of life.

One of Siwicki's long-time friends describes him as a talented musician and devoted son.

Siwicki is a well-known guitar player in Winnipeg.

"We just feel that there is a terrible injustice here," Glenn MacRae said. "I hope we can somehow reach the compassion of a judge to realize that this man is not a threat to us."

MacRae added Siwicki, "should be out being able to deal with his mother's affairs".

MacRae did note Siwicki possibly made a poor choice.

"He's an upstanding man who possibly made a mistake in judgment," MacRae said. .

Siwicki's lawyers tell CBC that his mother did not want to continue her life, and did not want him to call for help.