Lukas Strasser-Hird killer Assmar Shlah appeals murder conviction

One of the three men found guiltyof killing Lukas Strasser-Hirdhas asked the Alberta Court of Appeal to overturn his conviction, arguing the jury's verdict was "unreasonable."

Assmar Shlahwas found guilty of second-degree murder, along with Franz Cabrera,less than a week ago.

Joch Pouk was convicted of manslaughter, while Jordan Liao was acquitted.

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After the Crown closed its case, all defence lawyers argued for a directed verdict,meaning the judge would tell jurors they must acquit or find the accused who were each charged with second-degree murderguilty of lesser offences.

The trial judge erred in dismissing the directed verdict application and the verdict rendered by the jury wasunreasonable and not be supported by the evidence,argued Shlah's lawyers Balfour Der and Jillian Williamson in their notice of appeal.

Strasser-Hird was swarmed, beaten and stabbed outside a Calgary nightclub in November2013.

A fifth man, Nathan Gervais, was also charged with first-degree murder, but disappeared weeks before the trial began while on bail. He remains at large.

After the verdicts were read, Shlahburied his facein his hands and appearedto be crying.

Dersaid at the time that he did not have words to express his disappointment with the verdict.

"I have no clue how these people could actually come to this verdict," he said. "He's devastated. The boy'ssitting there crying, saying he never touched the guy."

Strasser-Hird's DNA was found on Shlah's shoes but Der said it wasn't in a pattern consistent with kicking or stomping the victim.

But prosecutor KenMcCaffrey told the jury that the witness who testified Shlah punched Strasser-Hird while he was on the ground, should be believed.

It was Shlah, according to McCaffrey, who was responsible for instigating the first fight.

The Crown called more than 80 witnesses over the six week trial.The other two men who were found guilty have not yet filed appeals.

A sentencing date will be set on Aug.5.

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