Geraldine Beardy, 29, died Sept. 18 after lapsing into a coma. Police laid a manslaughter charge against a Winnipeg store owner on Wednesday. (CBC)

A Winnipeg store owner has been charged with manslaughter in the death of a woman who was allegedly struck and injured for trying to steal a $1.49 can of lunch meat.

The 61-year-old man was originally charged with aggravated assault after the alleged incident in his store involving Geraldine Beardy, 29, last Sept. 13.

Police allege the owner of Okay Groceries on Sherbrook Street in Winnipeg confronted Beardy when he caught her stealing. She was assaulted before she fled to a nearby residence, police said.

Police were notified of the assault on Sept. 15, and Beardy died in hospital Sept. 18.

'Personal tragedy'

On Wednesday, the store owner was asked to turn himself in at police headquarters, said his lawyer, Evan Roitenberg.

Roitenberg said his client — who he didn't identify — was re-arrested for manslaughter, taken into custody and released on bail.

The upgrading of the charge to manslaughter has placed the man "in the midst of a personal tragedy," Roitenberg said.

Roitenberg didn't say when the man will make his next court appearance.

Police have never said how Beardy was assaulted or whether a weapon was used. Nor have they released the name of the store owner.

In an earlier interview with CBC News, the store owner confirmed the attempted theft but said he asked Beardy to leave and didn't know what happened to her after that. He did not provide his name.

Beardy's family members said they believe she was hit with a baseball bat and lapsed into a coma after being struck.

Beardy, who was from Garden Hill First Nation, about 600 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, was ill and needed to be in Winnipeg for medical treatment.