On September 23, 2015, Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier were sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in a jihad terror plot to derail a passenger train that travels between New York City and Ontario. Throughout the trial proceedings, Esseghaier remained defiant, insisting that only the Qur’an, not a Canadian court, could judge him and screaming Qur’an verses at the jury. He wrote a statement to the jury explaining, “I required the Holy Qur’an as unique reference of my trial and the judgement of all matter of people’s life.” He exhorted jury members to exonerate him and convert to Islam: “I encourage you to retreat from the charge that has been affected to you as a first step of your sincere repentance to God.”
This jihad plot was a long time in preparation. According to Canadian officials, this bloodthirsty and unrepentant jihadi had gone to Iran within two years of beginning to plan the jihad plot, to which his trip was related. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner James Malizia said that Esseghaier and Jaser had been given “support from al Qaeda elements located in Iran.” These elements, he said, also gave them “direction and guidance.” According to American officials involved with the case, al-Qaeda operated out of the Iranian town of Zahedan, near the Iranian borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, passing men and money through Iran.
But now Esseghaier and Jaser will get a new trial, because the jury was supposedly selected improperly. Given that they are in Canada, where the government is so very solicitous of Muslims, they will probably be released and maybe even given a few million dollars in compensation, a la Omar Khadr.
“New trial ordered for men convicted of terrorism in plot to derail train in Niagara’s Jordan Harbour,” Canadian Press, August 27, 2019:
Ontario’s highest court has ordered a new trial for two men found guilty of terrorism charges in connection with a plot to derail a passenger train.
The Court of Appeal for Ontario says the jury that convicted Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier was improperly selected, which means its verdict cannot stand.
Jaser and Esseghaier were found guilty in 2015 on a total of eight terror-related charges between them. They were sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole until 2023.
Lawyers for Jaser argued the trial judge mistakenly rejected their client’s request regarding the method of jury selection.
The lawyer appointed to assist Esseghaier, who continues to be self-represented, agreed in written arguments that a new trial must be ordered on that ground.
The law regarding jury selection was in flux during the trial but the appeal court says the approach used by the judge has since been deemed wrong. Several other cases have been overturned due to similar errors in recent years….
Stanton Lore says
The evidence against them was overwhelming. Any mistake in jury selection was not determinative. This is a waste of time.
Tom says
Yes it is a waste of time and taxpayer monies but if by chance and on another technicality, like choosing the right jurors this time around, they happen to get away with their Jihad plan they will likely try to sue Canada for their incarceration and Trudeau will give them millions of our tax dollars to appease them.
He has done it before, why woukd he not do it again.
ninetyninepct says
Correct, Tom. Trudeau has made it standard procedure to reward convicted Muslim killers and terrorists. Trudeau has firmly established sharia law in Canada by Butts kissing Muslims. It is no wonder why so many Canadians have such a low opinion of Muslims, but that opinion is far higher than we have about Trudeau.
gravenimage says
I hope Trudeau is voted out.
RonaldB says
Part of the symptoms of a degenerate, sclerotic civilization is that process takes precedent over substance. The Muslim terrorists chose to make a stand on the question of the obligations of the individual to religious beliefs versus his obligation to follow society’s rules. Probably not the best way to stay out of jail, but such pleas have been successful in the past, such as the right of Jehovah’s Witnesses to not recite the pledge. It makes a more interesting case when you argue principles. The Muslim terrorists were apparently willing to stake their life’s freedom on the clash of religious obligation and the law. Well and good. They got their platform and, predictably, lost their freedom. The case was interesting and relevant.
Now, the kritarchs of the courts are using a bait and switch. Instead of an interesting case pitting principles, we have a boring, technical case, revolving around which questions were allowed to be asked to the jury panel, and perhaps which charges to the jury could be made. The underlying message is that only bland technocrats are allowed to deal with questions like public safety, and likely, immigration control.
lebel says
“But now Esseghaier and Jaser will get a new trial, because the jury was supposedly selected improperly. Given that they are in Canada, where the government is so very solicitous of Muslims, they will probably be released and maybe even given a few million dollars in compensation, a la Omar Khadr.”
This is spectacularly unfair. It’s a technicality, nothing more, and it says nothing about the Canadian system. They will get their justice and the only thing with Canada in this particular case is that there is no death penalty.
gravenimage says
Is lebel actually saying something negative about Jihad terror here? Hard to tell, because this is so vague. If so, this is the fourth time in a great many years.
Angemon says
I mentioned this several times: shia Iran shelters sunni al-qaeda members. The only thing devout mmuslims hate more than heretic muslims are infidels…
gravenimage says
True, Angemon. Shia and Sunnis hate each other, but they hate Infidels more.
UNCLE VLADDI says
In the longer articles, they even admit the jury came to the correct conclusions; there were no inappropriate instructions given to them, they heard and assessed all the evidence properly, but still …give a liberal “judge” an inch (and in Canada, which has been proudly socialist for over 60 years, ALL “judges” are liberals) they will take a mile – er, I mean, “kilometre!” They will bend over backwards to exonerate musilms because, as closet racists, they see them as mentally inferior swarthy animal-people, who are so at the mercy of their violent instincts, that they can never be held criminally responsible for having enough mental capacity to form criminal intent whenever they’re “oppressed” (confused) by the mentally superior whites, so these noble savages must always be given a free pass and always be pitied as helpless victims as they rape murder and jihad their merry ways through our “hateful” Western societies. Accusing them of their crimes is wrong and can only lead to “forcing them” to commit even more crimes against us! Now that would be hatefully racist and bigoted, and we would never want that, now, would we?!
I L Roth says
They want a full jury of muslims. They have chosen Canada to live the should obey your laws. The jury was picked at random so how can the now contest it. this is all bonkers. Wake up Canada before you go down the pan.
Eric Jones says
I can’t resist the zebiba target on this guys forehead. They want a new trial? How about a trial by.223, .308 or 7.62. What do you think?
Eric
Jayme says
The Anti Hate Network is lets be clear is a pro islamic group there mission this fall is to get as many PPC events cancelled and stop people from voting PPC.this could back fire not only on them but hurt the LIberals big time.