Bail denied for youth arrested in brawl in cemetary

Brawl tied to death

A bail hearing for a youth accused of stabbing a man outside a restaurant two weeks ago is shedding new light on the killing of 17-year-old Frank Green Jr.

Green, who went by Frankie, was found dead in St. Boniface Cemetery on Sept. 12, 2009. He was severely beaten and suffered injuries all over his body.

Police recently arrested five male teens and charged them with second-degree murder.

Green’s death was part of a long-running dispute between two warring factions of teens that, seven months later, continued to generate acts of revenge and violence, Crown attorney Susan Baragar told Judge Michel Chartier during a bail hearing Friday.

Green’s killers allegedly belong to a gang called the Dynamite Crew or East Siders, while Green belonged to a group that called itself the West Siders, Baragar said.

Police surveillance and wiretaps uncovered a continuous pattern of retribution between the groups, including beatings and the shooting of a house.

The Crown is opposing the bail application of a 17-year-old youth arrested following a brawl between members of the two groups, one day after the murder suspects were arrested. The teen is charged with aggravated assault.

Baragar told court seven West Siders — including the accused — had spent the evening of April 17 celebrating the arrests of the murder suspects. The group was capping the night off at a Denny’s restaurant on Sargent Avenue when they saw a member of the Dynamite Crew at another table.

The man left the restaurant and was met outside by another Dynamite Crew member and a 19-year-old man.

“What ensues can only be called a brawl or a rumble,” Baragar said.

During the melee, the 19-year-old man suffered a deep stab wound to his abdomen. The man called 911 before losing consciousness.

“Police described him as being eviscerated,” Baragar said. “His intestines were hanging out and (he) said he could see his liver.”

The man — who spent five days in hospital — could not identify his attacker. But another witness told police the accused admitted stabbing the victim, Baragar said.

Baragar argued the public would be “outraged” if the accused was released on bail.

“It doesn’t take much to see there will be more retaliation coming,” she said. “We have no assurances (the accused) won’t be involved in retaliation if released.”

Defence lawyer Serena Puranen said her client admits wielding a knife that night but argued it’s still unclear if he caused the victim’s injuries.

Chartier will deliver his decision Monday.

Bail denied for youth arrested in brawl
A judge has denied bail to a 17-year-old male arrested in a brawl allegedly sparked by a 2009 homicide.
The youth applied for bail Friday before Judge Michel Chartier. He was arrested April 17 following a brawl outside a Sargent Avenue restaurant.
The youth is accused of stabbing a 19-year-old man in the stomach, sending him to hospital in critical condition.
The Crown alleges the accused was among a group of seven teens who attacked three men they believed had been involved in the killing of 17-year-old Frank (Frankie) Green Jr.
Green was found dead in St. Boniface Cemetery on Sept. 12, 2009. He was severely beaten and suffered injuries all over his body.
Police recently arrested five male teens and charged them with second-degree murder.