As his killers drove off to celebrate the $70,000 they'd stolen from him, Calgary shopkeeper Maqsood Ahmed prayed in his friend's arms as he bled to death on the pavement, jurors were told Monday.

A second-degree murder trial began this morning for Lloyd Kollie, 21, accused of killing Ahmed, 55, in October 2014.

Ahmed, a father and entrepreneur, was a pillar in his community, prosecutor Richelle Freiheit told jurors in her opening statement.

Killers 'laid in wait'

On the night of Oct. 8, 2014, Ahmed had just closed up his produce shop that also did Western Union money transfers, and left his northeast business around 9:45 p.m. with a colleague.

With one attacker manning the getaway car, two others "stayed behind and laid in wait for Mr. Ahmed," said Freiheit.

As he walked to his car through the dark parking lot with $70,000 in a black canvas bag, Ahmed was attacked by masked men.

The prosecution says Kollie was the "main player" in the killing.

The victim was pepper-sprayed before his bag of cash was ripped from his hands by Kollie, says the prosecution. Ahmed chased after the robber, caught up and fought for his bag.

Maqsood Ahmed, 55, who owned the Calgary Produce Market in northeast Calgary, was stabbed to death in October 2014. (Facebook)

Ahmed prayed in friend's arms

That's when the Crown says "the playing field shifted" and Kollie began his fatal attack. Ahmed was stabbed eight times, including one deep cut to his arm, which hit an artery.

Another robber, Jean Havyarimana, who has since pleaded guilty to his role in the attack, drove up, leapt out of the car and kicked Ahmed twice while he was on the ground.

"[The] father, an entrepreneur, a pillar of the community, was no match for this team of attackers," Freiheit told jurors.

Kollie and Havyarimana then drove off with the money.

Ahmed tried to get up but collapsed. His friend and fellow shopkeeper Balbir Kanda had come out of his own neighbouring business, got down on the ground and held on to Ahmed.

The dying man managed to say his prayers in Kanda's arms.

Kollie's DNA under Ahmed's fingernails

Ahmed left behind a wife, grown children and grandchildren and left the community with a "profound sense of loss."

In the days after his death as Ahmed's family was grieving their loss, the killers drove to Edmonton for a two-day hotel party to celebrate the robbery, according to witnesses who will testify for the prosecution.

Police would eventually find Kollie's DNA under Ahmed's fingernails. The victim's blood was also found in the getaway vehicles along with clothing worn during the attack, a mask and bear spray.

Jurors were told two others have since pleaded guilty for their roles in the attack.

Defence lawyer Christopher Funt represents Kollie.

Freiheit and co-counsel Ken McCaffrey will call 50 witnesses over three weeks.