Witness who helped organize killings identifies Nick Chan as a leader of Calgary gang
Meghan Grant | CBC News | Posted: March 9, 2016 7:39 PM | Last Updated: March 9, 2016
Witness who can only be identified as MM told jury Chan brothers were in charge of the gang
Another witness has pointed at Nick Chan as being the leader of a Calgary street gang during one of the city's most bloody and brutal time periods.
"They called the shots," said the man who can only be identified as MM, of Nick Chan and his brother Tim.
Chan is on trial for the first-degree murder of Sanjeev Mann at the Bolsa Restaurant on New Year's Day 2009.
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Though he's not alleged to have pulled the trigger, he is accused of orchestrating the execution of the rival gangster in retaliation for the death of friend and fellow FOB gangster, Roger Chin.
On Wednesday MM, a former gang member, testified that Chan and his brother Tim were in charge of the FOB gang.
"If they wanted something done they would have sanctioned it, delegated it," said MM. "They would have appointed who they wanted to execute."
MM testified that he learned information that could help the FOBs get to Mann who was with the rival FK gang. He told the jury he shared that information with Nick and Tim Chan.
"They're a team," said MM.
Tim Chan is charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder and has been wanted by police since July 2013.
Three people died at the Bolsa Restaurant — Mann, as well as his associate Aaron Bendle, who had been kidnapped the night before and used as bait, and innocent bystander, Keni Su'a who was gunned down as he fled the restaurant after gunfire erupted.
Two other gangsters have already pleaded guilty to killing Bendle and Su'a.
Between 2011 and 2012 three men were found guilty after two trials in connection with the Bolsa murders.
MM was a key witness but in June 2012 it came to light that he had been arrested for drinking and driving in Saskatchewan and told RCMP officers he committed the murders. That led to appeals being granted.
All three eventually pleaded guilty to various charges.
Meanwhile the largest Calgary police gang investigation saw more alleged gangsters charged in connection with several homicides. Nick Chan was included in that group.
MM is expected to be the final witness in Chan's trial.