As Calgary Stampeders head to Grey Cup, court case advances for man accused of murdering player
Preliminary inquiry is set for May 29, 2017
One day after the Calgary Stampeders advanced to the Grey Cup, the court case for the teen accused of murdering defensive back Mylan Hicks, has taken a significant step forward.
On Monday, a preliminary inquiry was booked for Nelson Lugela, 19, who faces a charge of second-degree murder for the fatal nightclub shooting in September.
Lugela will go before a Provincial Court judge on May 29, 2017 for a week-long hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial.
Defence lawyer Alain Hepner says his client is "morose."
"He's doing like anybody else who's facing a homicide charge," said Hepner. "It's not a happy environment."
With the Stamps heading to the championship game next weekend as the heavy favourite, Hicks remains in the thoughts of his former friends and teammates.
While wearing the slain Stampeder's No.31, defensive back Jamar Wall solidified the Stamp's lead on Sunday with a touchdown to make the score 32-0 heading into the second half.
The team has also marked Hicks' death by hosting two memorial services — one public, one private and by hiding a patch featuring a pair of crossed pistols that was added to their alternate jerseys in 2014.
Investigators believe a fight inside the nightclub between two groups eventually moved outside, where the shooting took place.
Hicks' mother Renee told CBC that her son was trying to defuse the situation and hugged his alleged killer and offered to buy him a drink before the fatal altercation.
After her son's death, Renee said she thanked God when her son moved from the U.S. to play football in Canada because he was living in a "safer place."
Hicks was a Michigan State Spartan from 2011 to 2014 and had been on Calgary's practice roster.
The Detroit native earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at Michigan State and won Big Ten and Rose Bowl titles with the Spartans in 2013.
The Stamps will face the Ottawa Redblacks in the Gray Cup next Sunday.
Meanwhile Lugela's lawyer hasn't ruled out applying for bail pending trial.
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