YES, WE HAVE A VERDICT, AND WE HAVE GOTTEN ONE TERRORIST off our streets, with the possibility of three more once his accomplices have all had their trails. With all the time and evidence that the RCMP had gathered, only a fraction of it was presented and had more been presented, he may have also been convicted on the most serious of the charges, “possession of an explosive device with intent to use that device for a terrorist activity.” I believe that it was a serious mistake on the part of the procecution of not making sure that the evidence that would have shown his guilt on the charge was not presented. Misbahuddin Ahmed sat stoic and grim-faced Friday as an Ottawa jury found him guilty on two of three terrorist-related offences, ending one phase of Canada’s most extensive domestic anti-terrorism investigation since 9/11. The 30-year-old former Ottawa Hospital technician, who had been on bail since shortly after his arrest in August 2010, was allowed to spend time with his tearful wife Alya, their three young daughters and other family members before three police officers took him into custody. Ontario Superior Court Justice Colin McKinnon rejected a request from defence lawyer Mark Ertel that Ahmed be allowed to remain on bail until his sentencing, likely in the fall. “Mr. Ahmed is a convicted terrorist,” said Justice McKinnon. “I never enjoy sending people to prison but it is appropriate in this case.” As is usual in criminal cases, McKinnon ordered a pre-sentence report but said that under Canada’s anti-terrorism law, Ahmed now faces a lengthy term in federal penitentiary — maximum sentences of 10 and 14 years that must be served consecutively. The verdict was a partial victory for the defence. Ahmed had pleaded not guilty to three offences: conspiring to facilitate a terrorist activity and participating in the activities of a terrorist group. He was found guilty of both. But he was found not guilty of the most serious charge — possession of an explosive device with intent to use that device for a terrorist activity. Had he been convicted on that charge, he could have faced life imprisonment. RCMP laid charges against Ahmed and his two alleged co-conspirators after a massive top-secret security operation dubbed Project Samosa during which they placed the young Muslim men under close surveillance and monitored their home, car, phone and computer communications. The INSET team of at least 100 officers gathered 70,000 intercepts during the investigation. The prosecution case was based on a fraction of those intercepts. A verdict is expected in the trial for Khurram Sher, one of Ahmeds alleged co-conspirators, on Aug. 19. Judge in Misbahuddin Ahmed case says he never enjoys sending anyone to prison but he thinks this is an appropriate case #cbcott #ottnews ottawacitizen/news/local-news/jurors-reach-verdict-in-misbahuddin-ahmed-terror-trial
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 16:39:50 +0000
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