Six men alleged to be leaders among the Montreal Mafia have decided to proceed with a trial on several charges related to Project Colisée.
All six, including Nicolo Rizzuto, the octogenarian father of reputed mob boss Vito Rizzuto, appeared before Superior Court Justice James Brunton on Tuesday through a video linkup between the Montreal courthouse and the Bordeaux and Montreal detention centres.
Lawyers representing all six said they are ready to proceed with a trial in Quebec Court before a judge alone. Prosecutor Yvan Poulin said the Crown did not object with the request.
Two weeks in September have been set aside for both sides to argue pretrial motions. The case is scheduled to be heard at the special courthouse on Gouin Blvd., which was constructed for criminal trials held against members of the Hells Angels a few years ago. Since then, the courthouse has been used for other trials involving several defendants tied to organized crime.
Project Colisée was a lengthy police investigation into the activities of the Montreal Mafia and resulted in the arrests of more than 90 people in November 2006. Most of the investigation was conducted while Vito Rizzuto was behind bars and awaiting the outcome of a U.S. case where he ultimately pleaded guilty to racketeering for his role in the 1981 murders of three men in New York. He is serving his sentence in the U.S.
The six men who appeared before Brunton on Tuesday were singled out as leaders in the alleged conspiracies probed during Project Colisée, including drug trafficking, extortion and illegal gambling.
