Calgary gang suspect Talal Amer denied bail while witnesses in protection program

Witnesses who say they were kidnapped, beaten and threatened to keep quiet about the secrets of alleged gangstersappear to have cracked the case of a shooting in Calgary that nearly killed a man.

Talal Amer, 22, was denied bail Thursday. There was no publication ban at the hearing whereprosecutor Bob Sigurdson outlined some of the Crown's case against the young man believed to be involved in organized crime.

"From January through to November, it appears there has been a certain amount of gunplay, which Mr. Amer has been involved in," said Judge Gerry Meagher.

• Calgary's 'frustrating' gang war pushes police, prosecutors to change tactics

• Calgary faces all-out gang war defined by impulsive gun violence, family connections

Calgary is in the middle of a gang war involving mainly young men of Lebanese descent, many of whom were born in this city and went to high school together.

Amer's latest charges stem from anear-fatal shooting that took place in January but it wasn't until two witnesses came forward to police in November that the eight charges were laid.

Both witnesses have provided sworn statements to police and at least one is in the witness protection program, according to Sigurdson.

The witnessestold police they were with Amer and Redear Kadir-Shahwan in January when both opened fire on two men in a parking lot of a strip-mall in the city's northeast. Kadir-Shahwanis accused of hitting one who wastaken to hospital in life-threatening condition.

The witnesses told policeAmeralso took three to five shots at the victims as they were driving away but did not hit anyone. For that reason, a charge of discharging a firearm with the intent to wound was added today.

Kadir-Shahwanalso faces afirst-degree murder charge in relation toa homicide last month.

Alleged kidnapping

Six months later, in June, the two witnesses told officers they were "abducted"and taken in a vehicle somewhere outside of the city where they were threatened, beaten and pepper sprayed, according to their statements.

The concern was they would tell police what they'd witnessed in January.

"Apparently that had a reverse effect because they went to police,"said Meagher.

OnJune 12, officers were called to thecommunity ofPenbrookeMeadows,after witnesses reported three vehicles driving down an alley withthe passengers shootingat each other. The vehicles were gone by the time officers arrived butseveral shell casings were found.

Several days later, Amer was charged in connection with thatinvestigation after officers found a handgun and drugs in his vehicle.

In the summer, Amer was allowed to have his passport back and travel to Lebanon to visit family but the judge pointed out the latest batch of charges had not been laid and the witnesses had not yet come forward.

Amer shot 3times

Amer is alleged to have breached his bail conditions three timestwice by having a cell phone and once for being out pasthis curfewa factor in the judge's decision to deny his release.

In November, Amer was injured after being shot three times, including once in the back, near his parents home.

Court heard today that he had been under "considerable surveillance" in the months leading up to the latest charges being laid.

Amer's father was prepared to post $60,000 surety if his son was released, according to his lawyer KaysiFagan. Several family members were in court today, supporting his release.

He has no previous convictions and will appear next in court on Jan. 11.

Police are still investigating the alleged abduction of the two witnesses and haven't ruled out laying additional charges.