2 convicted in New Year's Day triple murder get new trial

CBC news has learned that two Calgary gang members convicted of murdering three people on New Year's Day 2009 atthe BolsaRestaurant in Calgary's southeastwill get a new trial.

Nathan Zuccherato and Michael Roberto werefound guilty in October 2011ofgunning down Sanjeev Mann, Aaron Bendle and Keni Su'a.

The gun exchange was part of an escalating, violent feud between two rival gangs Fresh Off the Boat and FOB Killers.

The Crown agreed to a new trial for the pair after its star witness made a surprise confession to being the sole killer.

M.M. a police informant told Saskatchewan RCMPin 2011 that he had shot all three victims himself while beingarrested for drinking and driving.

"I murdered Sanjeev Mann," read the RCMP confession transcript. "I murdered Aaron Bendle. I murdered Keni Su'a. I wanna be charged with three counts of first-degree murder."

The evidence was only disclosed to the Crown last year.

The matter has notyet been before the Court of Appeal, so the new trial hasn't officially been ordered, but based on the Crown's consent it is expected tohappen at a hearing set for June 12.

Dressed like 'ninjas'

The main issue in the2011 trialwas the identification of the shooters, who were wearing masks. At least one witness testified the shooters were dressed like "ninjas."

The Crown made the case that Zuccherato andReal Honorio, who was convicted in a separate trial,entered the restaurant with their faces covered and began shooting.

According to court documents, the Crown believed thethird shooter was Robertowho was also masked and standing guard outside the restaurant.

Mann and Bendle were targeted in the daylight attack. Sua, a 43-year-old construction worker, was eating in the restaurant and tried to escape but was beaten and gunned down in the parking lot.

The court had also hearddetails from M.M. in the overnight kidnapping of Bendle, who worked for Mann.

He said the kidnappers used Bendles phone to set up a meeting with Mann and once both were inside the restaurant gunmen went in to execute them.

A fourth man,Nicholas Hovanesian, was sentenced to 14 yearsfor his role in the killingsin March. Hovanesian pleaded guilty last year to kidnapping Bendle and accessory after the fact to murder.