Alleged Montreal Mafia figure seeking bail after first-degree murder charge

Stefano Sollecito, one of the alleged leaders of the Sicilian Mafia arrested last month in Montreal, is now seeking bail.

One of the alleged leaders of the Sicilian Mafia arrested last month in Montreal is now seeking bail.

Stefano Sollecito was arrested along with 10 other co-accused on June 12. He was seen being lifted from a wheelchair to a police cruiser when he was arrested at his home.

His lawyer was in court Friday arguing the 57-year-old should be released from custody while his criminal proceedings continue. The defence said in court that it plans to argue that Sollecito should be allowed to return home until his trial. His daughter would take him in and provide money guarantees.

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Sollecito would also have to surrender his passport.

But the prosecution is against it and will oppose bail once the case is heard in the presence of Sollecito on July 23.

Crown prosecutor Mathieu Longpre said outside of court that the accused should remain in custody “to make sure that the accused attends the court for the remainder of the procedures, for the safety of the public, and to make sure the population keeps confidence in the justice system.”

Sollecito, as well as alleged Mafia boss Leonardo Rizzuto, are facing first-degree murder charges in the 2011 killing of Lorenzo Lopresti, who was fatally shot on his balcony in St-Laurent.

The accused are also facing conspiracy to murder several others during a decade.

The arrests follow information police obtained from convicted mob hitman Frederick Silva, who has since turned police informant.