Nick Chan murder trial jury continues its deliberations in Calgary

"Unsavoury" witnesses who should not be believed are at the heart of the Crown's case against accused murderer Nick Chan, according to his lawyerin closing arguments before jury deliberations began Monday.

"It's like they went to college and got a graduate degree in how to be a criminal," said Chan's lawyerDick Cairns.

"They'll lie to the police, they'll lie to you, they'll lie to the judge, they'll lie to me."

Cairns and prosecutor Steven Johnston both made closing arguments to the jury Monday before the panel of 12 men and women began deliberations.Chan faces a charge of first-degree murder for the death of Sanjeev Mann at the Bolsa Restaurant on New Year's Day2009.

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The Crown's case is heavily weighted on one witness who was granted a partial immunity deal, whocan only be identified as GH.

"I suggest this was a deal with the devil," said Cairns. "And look what the devil got in his deal."

In exchange for his testimony against Chan, GH will be eligible for parole in Mayeven though he's a confessed killer.

But during his testimony, GH told the jurythat Chan gave him a CD full of photos of rival gangsters with instructions to get to know the faces so he would know who to kill. Mann's photo was on that list.

Mann's associate Aaron Bendle, who had been kidnapped the night before and used as bait, was also killed. And an innocent bystander, Keni Su'a, was gunned down as he fled the restaurant after gunfire erupted.

'Mr. Chan's life is literally in your hands'

Two other gangsters have already pleaded guilty to killing Bendle and Su'a.

The triple murder at theBolsaRestauranttook place on Jan.1, 2009, andwas allegedlyorchestrated by Chan.

"You should not be left with any doubt that Mr. Chan abettedthe killing of Mr. Mann," said Crown prosecutor Steven Johnston in his final address to the jury.

Chan is accused of leading the FOB gang through a bloody seven-year period that saw 25 people killed. GH testified he was a member of the group through that time period.

But Cairns said Chan's gang affiliations don't tie him to the killing.

"A convincing liar can be a convincing witness and when it happens in a courtroom it can result in a wrongful conviction."

And asjurorsbegandeliberations late Monday afternoon, Cairns reminded them of the weight of their task.

"Mr. Chan's life is literally in your hands."