OFF THE WIRE
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CBC News
Another four accused members of the Hells Angels arrested as part of the anti-biker raids known as Operation SharQc have been granted bail.
They are among more than 150 alleged members of the group who were arrested 15 months ago on charges of murder, conspiracy, drug trafficking and gangsterism.
Seven of the accused bikers appealed a lower court ruling that rejected bail.
On Thursday, Madame Justice Sophie Bourque of the Quebec Superior Court said that after reviewing their cases, four of them may be released pending the outcome of their trial.
The evidence she heard and the reasons for her decision are covered by a reporting ban.
Crown attorney Martin Chalifour said about a dozen of the more than 150 people taken into custody during the SharQc ((Stratégie Hells Angels Région Québec) raids have now been released on bail.
No trial expected before 2011
He said the next step is getting ready for trial.
Jury candidates are not expected to be called anytime soon because defence lawyers, including Lucie Joncas, are wading through hundreds of thousands of documents generated by the police investigation.
"The general theory is one thing, but what, specifically, can we pinpoint on someone is still not clear," she said.
Joncas said she doesn't expect a trial before next year.
The men granted bail will have to surrender their passports, not leave the province, make cash deposits to the court, check in with police once a week and not go to any bars.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2010/07/23/montreal-bikers-granted-bail.html#ixzz0ud3WSDIm
