2018 Grey Cup delays murder trial for man accused of killing Calgary Stampeder

The 2018 Grey Cup has delayed a murder trial by a week to accommodate Calgary Stampeders players who may be called as witnesses.

Nelson Lugela, 19, is accused of fatally shooting Calgary Stampeder Mylan Hicks, 23, last year.

Hicks and some of his teammates had been at the Marquee nightclub celebrating a win when he was killed on Sept. 25, 2016.

Prosecutor Tom Sparks told the judge and defence lawyer Alain Hepner that many of the witnesses are still playing for the Stamps and could be involved in the Grey Cup in Edmonton on Nov. 25, 2018.

"I've got to tell you, that's a new one for me," said Court of Queen's Bench Justice David Gates before agreeing on the Dec. 3, 2018 trial date.

• As Calgary Stampeders head to Grey Cup, court case advances for man accused of murdering player

Calgary StampederMylan Hicks, 23, was fatally shot outside the Marquee nightclub where he had been hanging out with teammates. A fight inside the nightclub between two groups eventually moved outside where the shooting took place.

Hickswas trying to defuse the situation and hugged his alleged killer and offered to buy him a drink before the fatal altercation, according to his mother, Renee.

A Michigan State Spartan from 2011 to 2014, Hickshad been on Calgary's practice roster.

The Detroit native earned a bachelor's degree in psychology at the university and won Big Ten and Rose Bowl titles with the Spartans in 2013.

The jury will be selected the week before the trial.