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Trial resumes for men accused of Stanley Cup riot beating

The trial of four men accused of beating a man during the June 2011 Stanley Cup riot is expected to resume Wednesday morning in Provincial court in Vancouver.

Ioannis Kangles, Michael MacDonald, Carlos Barahona Villeda and David Leonati are charged with assault and taking part in a riot. They have pleaded not guilty.

Tuesday, they listened as 39-year-old Robert MacKay described how he was punched, kicked and thrown to the ground as he tried to stop a mob from breaking into the Bay department store as crowds stormed several blocks of the city, following the Canucks’ loss in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup final.

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MacKay says he was even pepper sprayed before two people pulled him away from the attack and helped him escape.

READ MORE: Victim recalls Stanley Cup riot beating 

Two other men charged in MacKay’s attack were convicted last May.

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The riot caused millions of dollars in damages as cars were burned, windows smashed, and stores looted.

To date, a total of 290 people have been charged in connection with the riot, according to statistics on the Vancouver Police Department’s website.

Dozens of people have already pleaded guilty and received their sentences, ranging from discharges to jail terms of a year or more.

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