Supreme Court to decide next step in Via Rail terror case

Supreme Court to decide next step in Via Rail terror case
CHEK

OTTAWA — The fate of two men accused of plotting to derail a Via train in a terrorist attack should become a little clearer today.

The Supreme Court of Canada is set to decide whether it will review a lower-court decision to grant Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier a new trial.

Jaser and Esseghaier were found guilty in 2015 of terror-related charges arising mainly from an alleged al-Qaida-inspired plot to derail a passenger train travelling between the United States and Canada.

In August last year, the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered a fresh trial for the men on grounds the jury that convicted them was improperly chosen.

Following the decision, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada said it would proceed with a new trial.

However, federal lawyers also exercised a right to seek the Supreme Court’s permission to challenge the appeal-court decision.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2020.

The Canadian Press


The Canadian PressThe Canadian Press

Recent Stories

Send us your news tips and videos!