Six men charged with first-degree murder at the Midway Family Fun Park allegedly "planned to kill" or seriously injure Charbel Chaar in a way they knew would likely cause death when they brought several weapons to the park, including a handgun, knives, swords, pepper spray and collapsible batons, the Crown said during the trial's opening arguments on Monday.
Assistant Crown attorney Carl Lem told the jury Chaar, 26, appeared to be waiting for someone outside the entrance of the park just before 4 p.m. on Sept. 4, 2003. He had apparently been in contact with some of the accused earlier in the afternoon.
Shortly after, Lem said a small convoy of three cars pulled into the parking lot and five of the six accused jumped from their cars and rushed towards the young man.
After a short exchange of gunfire between one of the accused and a friend of Chaar's, who had been sitting in a car parked nearby, the Crown said Chaar retreated into the amusement park and was allegedly followed by Wahab Dadshani, Tawab Dadshani and Tarik Echrif.
Charr, who was unarmed, was then cornered at the end of a hallway where he was punched, kicked, stabbed and hacked with a sword, the Crown said.
Lem told the court police officers, who had been driving by the Midway at the time of the incident, heard the gunfire and were taking several people into custody in the parking lot while the attack continued inside.
Once paramedics arrived, Chaar was rushed to hospital and his heart stopped en route. He suffered a gash to his stomach; three near-severed fingers; numerous hacks and slashes to his wrist, which severed an artery and fractured a bone; a cut to the back of his head; black eyes and a broken nose.
Although Chaar received extensive treatment, he died early the next morning.
Two of the accused in the case, Shaun Hulbert, 25, and Fahim Payman, are currently free on bail.
Ottawa police Det. Isabelle Ouellette, who attended to Chaar at the scene, was the first to take the stand on Monday.
She testified there was enormous amounts of blood, and described the extent of Chaar's injuries.
The Crown is planning to call about 28 witnesses over the course of the trial. Len said those witnesses include Midway owner David Rubenstein, who apparently saw Chaar clutch his stomach and allegedly witnessed Wahab Dadshani holding a sword, which was bent and bloody.
A security tape also captured part of the attack and will be presented to the jury. The prosecution alone expects to take two to three weeks to present its case.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Natalie Pierosara
