Canadian jihadist gets 14-year sentence with 7 years' credit for time served

For those seven remaining years, what safeguards exist against prison dawa? Saad Khalid Update. "Toronto 18 Member Gets 14-Year Sentence," from City News, September 3:

A 22-year-old man who pleaded guilty in a homegrown terrorist scheme has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Though Saad Khalid wasn't the leader of the so-called Toronto 18, which allegedly planned to storm Parliament, behead the prime minister, and set off bombs in front of several targets including the Toronto Stock Exchange and CSIS headquarters, Ontario Superior Court Justice Bruce Durno called the crime "vile" and said the defendant's degree of responsibility remained "fairly high."

"This was not a spur of the moment offence," Durno said in delivering his judgement. "Canadian society relies on balance and not bullets."

Khalid pleaded guilty in May to one count of participating in a terror plot. The judge granted him seven years credit for time served, which means that he may only serve seven more years depending on when he's considered eligible for parole. The judge left that decision up to the parole board. Defence lawyer Russell Silverstein said his client was pleased with the sentence and would not appeal.

The 2006 RCMP and CSIS investigation ended in the arrests of 18 individuals in the GTA and the seizure of apparent bomb-making materials.

Seven of the 18 people arrested have since had their charges dropped, while a youth member of the group was sentenced in May to two-and-a-half years after a judge found him guilty of taking part in a terrorist organization. Because of time already served, he was released.

The others still accused have yet to stand trial.