Six-week trial set in notorious Bolsa restaurant gang shooting

A six-week jury trial has been set to begin Sept. 6, 2011, for three men in the gang-related fatal shooting of two rivals and a bystander at a southeast Calgary restaurant on New Year’s Day 2009.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Sandy Park on Friday set the date for Nicholas Rodrigo Hovanesian, 25, Nathan Lawrence Zuccherato, 24, and Michael Joseph Roberto, 27, who each face three counts of first-degree murder for the shootings at the Bolsa restaurant.

Sanjeev Mann, Aaron Bendle and bystander Keni Su’a died during the daylight shooting.

All of the suspects had been ordered on Oct. 18 to stand trial following a five-day preliminary hearing in front of provincial court Judge Bruce Fraser.

Hovanesian also faces trial on the alleged kidnapping of Bendle on Dec. 31, 2008. The charge was added by Crown prosecutor Shane Parker after evidence was heard during the hearing.

None of the evidence from the preliminary inquiry can be reported because of a court-ordered publication ban.

Real Christian Honorio, 27, also faces the same three first-degree murder charges, but will be tried separately. His trial is set to begin Nov. 1, 2011.

According to police, Mann, 22, and Bendle, 22, were targeted as part of a violent gang feud that is linked to at least 25 homicides in the city since 2002.

Su’a, 43, who had nothing to do with any of the men in the altercation, fled the restaurant when shots were fired.

He was met by a third gunman outside, according to the police investigation, and fatally wounded.

Jury selection for the three accused is set for Sept. 2, 2011, although Zuccherato’s lawyer, Alain Hepner, said outside court it could be delayed if pre-trial motions are heard starting on Sept. 6.