Suspected of being a hitman's trial of Frédérick Silva opens in Montreal

The trial for murders and attempted murder of Frédérick Silva, whom the police consider as a hitman of organized crime, opened Wednesday morning at the Montreal Palace of Montreal.

Silva, 41, is accused of having tried to kill the chief of the Salvatore Scoppa mafia clan in February 2017 in Terrebonne, and of having murdered Alessandro Vinci, in October 2018 in Laval, Yvon Marchand a few days later toMontreal and Sébastien Beauchamp, former member of the Rockers, club-school club of Hells Angels, in December 2018 in Montreal.

The trial, which takes place before judge Marc David, of the Superior Court (judge alone), is set until next December.In May 2022, Silva must have another trial for the murder of Daniel Armando Somoza-Gildea, 28, committed at the exit of a bar in downtown Montreal in May 2017.

Note that Silva was wanted by investigators from the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) since this murder, but was arrested until February 2019, after 20 months of a run during which he would havecommitted two of the assassinations for which he is accused.

Fully equipped armored vehicle

La poursuite, assurée par M^e Antoine Piché, M^e Nathalie Kleber et M^e Audrey Allard, a décidé de commencer le procès avec la tentative de meurtre sur Salvatore Scoppa survenue le 21 février 2017 à la sortie d’un restaurant du secteur Lachenaie, à Terrebonne.

That evening, Salvatore Scoppa ate in this restaurant with a friend and a woman when a man, seated with a dozen individuals at the other end of the establishment, came to talk to them.

The man then returned to his table and immediately-barely half an hour after arriving-the group paid the invoice of $ 121 by paying cash and came out of the restaurant.

After paying an invoice of $ 215 in part with gift cards, Salvatore Scoppa and his companions came out in turn from the restaurant.Scoppa was about to get on his car, a black Toyota Camry, when shots were fired in his direction.He was injured by at least one projectile and fled on foot.He was then found by the police at the hospital, where he went to receive care.

A Sûreté du Québec technician, Sophie Fortin, presented photos on which we see that the front door of Scoppa's car remained open after crime.At least one bullet-proof vest was inside as well as a controller that activated blue and red beacons (police colors) at the front of the car of the car.The vehicle, which was visibly armored, was equipped with windows about a centimeter thick.

Several lost bullets

The policewoman also said that a projectile crossed the body of a car parked in an alley in front of the scoppa vehicle and was found in the latter's trunk.Traces of impact have also been noted on other vehicles parked nearby.

Scoppa's coat, seized in the hospital, was holed in a few places and pieces of metal, probably coming from the ties of this garment, litter the ground when the police arrived on the scene.

A revolver was found near an external wall of the restaurant four days after the crime.

Attentif, l’accusé a été vu en train de remettre des notes à ses avocates, M^e Danièle Roy, M^e Lida Sara Nouraie et M^e Diana Sitoianu, durant les témoignages.The trial continues on Thursday.

To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, post 4918, write to Drenaud@lapresse.or write to the postal press address.