Calgary man convicted of teen's swarming murder gets bail pending Supreme Court appeal

One of the fourmen found guiltyof killing Lukas Strasser-Hirdhas been granted an interim release from custody as the appeal of his conviction heads to the country's top court.

AssmarShlahwas found guilty in 2016 of second-degree murder andsentenced tolife in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years for his role in thekilling of Strasser-Hird, who was swarmed and stabbed outside a Calgary nightclub in November 2013.

In May, Alberta's highest court dismissed his appeal.

• Calgary man who murdered teen in swarming attack asks appeal court to toss conviction

However, because one of the three judges in that ruling dissented, Shlah was automatically allowed to take his appeal to the Supreme Court.

The judge who granted Shlah bail pending a hearing at the top court noted in her decision that Shlah is neither a flight risk, nor a threat to public safety, and that he has previously been out on bail without incident.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Shlah's appeal in mid-November.

The lawyer for Franz Cabrera, who was also convicted of second-degree murder in the case, has said his client will also appeal to the Supreme Court.

In May, Nathan Gervais, 24,was found guilty of first-degree murder in Strasser-Hird's killing. He is askingthe Alberta Court of Appeal to overturn his conviction.

Gervais had been set to go on trial with the other men in 2016 but fled the country. He was caught in Vietnam in 2018 and brought back to Canada to face a new trial this year.

Joch Pouk was found guilty of manslaughter in Strasser-Hird's death but did not appeal his conviction.