5 Calgary court cases to watch in 2016

There are often lingering questions after a serious crime is committed; Why was someone killed? What were the victimsdoing before they died? How were police able to make their case?

By the time a case makes it to courtthose questions are often answered, providing closure for victims, their families and the community.

Several casesthat captivatedCalgarians from themoment theycame to light areback incourtin2016and will hopefully provide some answers.

1) Gang busted

• Accused: Nick Chan, 37
• Charges: First-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and instructing a criminal organization
• Victim:KeniSu'a, AaronBendle,SanjeevMann,
• Trial: Feb. 22
• Lawyers: Steven Johnston andAdam May(Crowns), Dick Cairns (defence)

Nick Chan is the last of the major players in the FOB vs. FK gang war that left 25 people dead between 2002 and2009.Police have identifiedChan as the leader of the notorious FOB gang.

Along with twomurder charges, Chan also faces one count ofinstructing a criminal organizationit'sthe first time in Calgary thatcharge has been laid.

A massive police investigation dubbedOperationDesinodismantled one of Calgary'sdeadliest criminal organizationsand lead tofive men being chargedwith the murders of six people, including Chan.

Since then, many of the key players havepleaded guiltyto various charges orflipped on their former associatesin exchange for plea deals, leaving Chan to face trial alone.

He is charged in connection with theBolsaRestaurant triple murder and the shooting ofrival gangsterKevinAnaya. The date for the trial related toAnayahasn't been set.

2) A deadly custody dispute?

• Accused:SheenaCuthill, her husband TimRempelandRempel'sbrotherWilhelmRempel
• Charges: First-degree murder
• Victim: Ryan Lane
• Trial: March 14
• Lawyers: TomBuglas(Crown), AlainHepner(SheenaCuthill),Allan Fay (TimRempel), Jim Lutz (WillhelmRempel)

In Feb.,2012, Ryan Lane'sfriends and familywaited in agonywhile police searched for his body.

One hundredofficers searched 13,000 ruralacresnearBeiseker andeventually foundhis remainsjust northwest of the town in late June, 2012. Thenine month investigationcost more than $1 million.

Police believe Lane was killed over a custody dispute withSheenaCuthill,the mother of his daughter.

They say Lane was lured to a parking lot on Country Hills Boulevard in February and murdered within 24hours.

In Nov., 2012,Cuthillwasarrested and charged, along withher husbandTimRempelandhisbrotherWilhelmRempel.

3) Neglected to death

• Accused:RodicaandEmileRadita
• Charges: First-degree murder
• Victim:AlexandruRadita, 15
• Trial: May 16
• Lawyers: Susan Pepper (Crown), Jim Lutz (Rodica), DennisKolba(Emil)

In May, 2013, whenparamedics found a15-year-oldin medical distressin his family's home in Citadel, Alexandru Raditaweighed less than 18 kilograms the average weightof a five-year-old.

Policesaid tests showed the boy, who had Type 1 diabetes, died from a bacterial infectioncaused by complications stemming from neglect and starvation.

His parents, Rodica and Emil Raditaare charged with first-degree murder.

This couldbe a precedentsetting case.In order to get a first-degree murder conviction,the Crown will have to argue that Alexwas forcibly confined in his parents' home because ofhis age and illness, or that there was planning and deliberation in his death.

Court documents showRodica and Emilrepeatedly refused to treat his illness, and at one pointwhen the family was living in B.C., Alex was taken by social services for a year.

He was returned to his parents, who then moved to Alberta, where he never saw a doctor and never attended school.

4) Mass murderer vs. mentally ill

• Accused: Matthew DeGrood
• Charges: 5 x first-degree murder
• Victim: Lawrence Hong, 27, Joshua Hunter, 23,KaitlinPerras, 23,ZackariahRathwell, 21, and JordanSegura, 22
• Trial: May 16
• Lawyers: NeilWiberg(Crown) and Allan Fay (defence)

The deaths of five young peoplerocked the city in April, 2014 and captivated the countryfor weeks.

Zackariah Rathwell, Lawrence Hong, Kaitlin Perras, Jordan Segura and Joshua Hunterwere celebrating the end of university classes when they werestabbed to death at a house party.

Matthew De Grood, a peer who was headed for law school the next semester, wascharged with five counts of first-degree murder.

At issue in the case is hismental stateat the time.

Several reports containingdoctors' opinionson whether they believe he should be found not criminally responsible (NCR) for the crimes he is alleged to have committed remainsealed.

5) A mother's legal responsibility

Accused: Tamara Lovett
Charges: Criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life
Victim: Ryan Lovett, 7
Trial: Nov. 28
Lawyers: Jonathan Hak (Crown) Alain Hepner (defence)

Tamara Lovett is accused of refusing to take her sick seven-year-old son, Ryan, to a doctor, despite friends' recommendations.

The boy died in March, 2013, after Lovett tried to treat his strep infection with holistic remedies, according to police.

Ryan was bedridden for 10 days before he was taken to hospital, where he had a seizure and died shortly after. His mother was arrested and charged eight months after his death.

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is a legal requirement for a parent or guardian to provide the necessaries of life, which are defined by the courts as food, shelter, care and medical attention necessary to sustain life and protection from harm.