“‘I am satisfied that life imprisonment is the appropriate sentence,’ the judge added, noting that the men would receive credit for time already spent in custody. He said both men have not renounced their violent, jihadist ideology and have shown no remorse.”
But remember: if you start to inquire about what exactly that violent, jihadist ideology consists of, and call for it to be combated by the Muslim communities that ostensibly reject it, you’re a racist, bigoted Islamophobe.
“2 Via Rail terror plotters sentenced to life in prison,” CBC News, September 23, 2015 (thanks to Lookmann):
Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier, the men convicted earlier this year on terrorism charges for plotting to derail a Via passenger train, were both sentenced to life in prison today in a Toronto courtroom.
In passing sentence, Superior Court of Justice Judge Michael Code said the unusual gravity of terrorism offences means he had to send a strong enough message to deter others considering carrying out similar crimes. He said there was little evidence presented that mitigates the presumptive sentence of life in prison.
“These are the most serious of terrorism offences, designed to result in indiscriminate killings of innocent human beings,” he said.
“I am satisfied that life imprisonment is the appropriate sentence,” the judge added, noting that the men would receive credit for time already spent in custody.
He said both men have not renounced their violent, jihadist ideology and have shown no remorse.
Crown sought life sentencesIn March, both men were found guilty of conspiring to commit murder for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a terrorist group.
Esseghaier, of Montreal, was found guilty of all charges against him, while Jaser, of Toronto, was convicted of all but one charge. The jury also found the men guilty of six other terror-related charges between them.
The Crown was seeking life sentences for both men.
Jaser’s lawyer argued for a sentence of 5½ years in jail which would include three years for time already served. Esseghaier made no sentencing submission.
After the sentences were delivered, Jaser shook his head, closed his eyes at one point and held his face in one hand.
Esseghaier crossed his arms and leaned back in the prisoner’s box as Code read out his 53-page sentencing decision.
“The life sentence doesn’t have any meaning for me,” Esseghaier told the judge after his sentence was delivered, adding God was his “master.”A copy of the ruling was offered to Esseghaier after it was read by the judge, but he threw it back.
Mental health questionsRegarding Esseghaier, the judge addressed in detail questions about his mental health, including Esseghaier’s assertion that it is currently the year 2014 and that he and his soul, will be released from jail on Dec. 25 of that year.
The judge called them “realizations” not “delusions” and said he’s skeptical Esseghaier is schizophrenic. In short, he said, Esseghaier’s mental health was not a mitigating factor in the sentence.
“The evidence is overwhelming that he was not delusional or psychotic at the time of the offence,” Code said. “It is unprecedented to adjourn a sentencing hearing indefinitely to await treatment.”
Code said it was “unnecessary to arrive at any firm conclusions regarding Esseghaier’s alleged mental illness.”
FBI recordings prove criticalThe most important evidence in the case was 25 hours of secretly recorded conversations between the two men and an undercover FBI agent. The agent posed as a wealthy Egyptian-American real estate developer whose views had supposedly become more hard line in recent years and who was a willing accomplice in the conspiracy….
In passing sentence Wednesday, Code rejected Jaser’s argument that he was entrapped by the undercover FBI agent, saying both he and Esseghaier were predisposed to carry out violent acts before the agent was introduced to the group….

Gene says
Life in prison? So, that’s 7 to 25 years. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_imprisonment_in_Canada), with three years off for time served. That means they’re out in 4 years. And killing infidels in 4.25 years. Yea, that’s an appropriate sentence for trying to kill thousands of Canadians. It’s a good thing they didn’t succeed or they might have had to stay in prison for 7 years.
gravenimage says
Yes–if life imprisonment in Canada were *really* life imprisonment, I would feel a whole lot better…
Joseph says
At least here in the USA we have life with out parole. The only problem is that we have very very few judges that would impose such a sentence. Then there is also the problem of maximum/minimum sentencing guidelines.
Herman says
I would feel a lot better if this would be a *REAL* death sentence instead of living of my tax payers dollars.
BW022 says
Wrong. Life sentences in Canada mean “to life”. Prisoners may be eligible for parole after a certain number of years but that doesn’t mean they will get it.
Lots of Canadian prisoners have received “to life” sentences, never receive parole, and died in prison. These two will not receive parole. Like Oslon and others… they’ll die in prison.
g says
Let’s hope so.
Azacque says
Soon too.
Angemon says
Ah, that explains the bit about “receiving credit for time already done” – it made no sense if they were actually sentenced to life.
mortimer says
Agreeing with the judge. I don’t believe Chiheb Esseghaier is ‘insane’ anymore than Adolf Eichmann was ‘insane’. They had ‘overvalued ideation’…fanaticism.
Matthieu Baudin says
Life sentences – anything less would be an insult to the people of Canada.
gravenimage says
Off topic, but why have courtroom sketches become so inept lately? Wow, these are ugly and poorly done. I suppose the budget for this work has nosedived.
Look what Europe is importing! says
Harrowing footage shows young suicide bomber weeping before final mission in Syria
http://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/harrowing-footage-shows-young-suicide-bomber-weeping-before-final-mission-in-syria/story-fnh81ifq-1227541244197
Suzy says
OT
Christian refugee says he is afraid of the Muslims at the refugee camp. He suspects there are ISIS member among them, since they are loudly quoting the same Qu’ran verses that ISIS did before beheading people.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=5b1_1442808971
No Fear says
Jihadi scum.
Rezali Mehil says
off topic I know…but looks like the Russian Marines teamed up with Syrian army and Hezbollah to get airport back off ISIS.
http://www.debka.com/article/24902/Russian-marines-join-Hizballah-in-first-Syrian-battle-%E2%80%93-a-danger-signal-for-US-Israel…
Could it be that Russia will become the new power of influence in the ME? …whilst Europe and US are filling their boots with Hijrah?
What of Israel in this new development ?….Whilst Obama may play games to help his muslim brethern …he certainly is losing out against the Russians.
More Later .,…
Rezali
More Later
Rezali
skep says
Our Canadian Media is careful not to calm these turds “Muslim”-they refer to them as “two men”.
Dr. Divinity says
Courts throughout the world recognize there is a islamic threat by sentencing the terrorists….still our governments won’t.
John E Rescoe says
I am no pacifist, nor am I anti-capital punishment. If done properly, the sentence should have been death at sunrise in a day. That’s all. Basically, an eye for an eye. I don’t want to see cruel and unusual execution. There are many chemicals used as anaesthesia in our hospitals, such as propofol & midazolam. I’ve had both before surgery. You never know what hit you. According to one’s weight, the dose is adjusted for the occasion. They can’t tell me there is no good chemical available that can do this, and it is not hard to get. All hospitals, vets, many surgical clinics (Joan Rivers) have this stuff in their standard inventory of anesthetics.
Cartimandua says
What really peeves me is that the NON CANADIAN terrists will be housed and fed by MY tax money. They are not Canadian. They should have been sent back to Tunisia. And any university taking them should be really looked at. As in whatever Canadian university taking them should lose all and I mean ALL their funding.if theyvarebever so stupid to take another one. I M asking all Quebec colleges and universities, are you doing your due diligence before accepting terrorists. ARE YOU? I RESENT paying him in prison, why not send him back k to Tunisia? I am sure that would be mass murder would be happy in their prison.o