Billy Ly's attempted murder trial begins in connection with Nick Chan stabbing

Four years after a bloody gang war in Calgary left more than two dozen dead, Billy Ly, 31, is accused of trying to add one more to that list.

Nick Chan the suspected leader of the FOB gang almost died after being stabbed in a brazen,daylight attack.

He was sitting in his car after shopping atCommunity Natural Foods on 10th Ave. S.W. when he was stabbed several times.

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Ly,believed to be a rival with ties to the FK gang, is accused of trying to kill Chan.

"There's a long history of animosity between these two groups," said prosecutor Bob Sigurdson in his opening address to the judge at Ly's attempted murder trial on Monday.

The attack lasted about eight seconds and was witnessed by three passers-by, according to Sigurdson.

"There was just someone stabbed outside Community," said a witness on a 911 call played in court. "There's blood on the ground."

Ly had been out on bail until his arrest just over a week ago in connection with a plot to kill British Columbia's notoriousBacon brothers who led the Red Scorpion gang,which had ties to Calgary's FOB gang.

He was flown to B.C. to face those charges, but was returned to Calgary for this trial.

In 2013, just months after he was attacked, Chan was charged with murder and instructing a criminal organization related to the gang war that raged between 2002 and 2009.

He's currently in custody awaiting trial.

Ly's trial is expected to last about two weeks. Defence lawyer Hersh Wolch hasn't indicated if he intends on calling Ly to testify in his own defence.