Latest news with #Esseghaier
Global News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Supreme Court won't hear appeal of man convicted in Via Rail terror plot
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of Raed Jaser, who was convicted of planning to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group. It's the latest development in a legal saga that began 12 years ago with charges against Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier for plotting attacks, including the planned sabotage of a Via Rail passenger train. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Crown alleged that Jaser and Esseghaier had agreed to kill Canadian citizens to force Canada to remove its military from Afghanistan. The Crown's evidence consisted mainly of intercepted communications and the testimony of an undercover U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation agent assigned to befriend Esseghaier. A jury could not reach a verdict for Jaser concerning the rail plot charge, but found him guilty of three other terrorism-related offences. Story continues below advertisement The Supreme Court, following its usual practice, did not provide reasons for refusing to review Jaser's case.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Supreme Court won't hear appeal application arising from Via Rail terror case
OTTAWA – The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of Raed Jaser, who was convicted of planning to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group. It's the latest development in a legal saga that began 12 years ago with charges against Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier for plotting attacks, including the planned sabotage of a Via Rail passenger train. The Crown alleged that Jaser and Esseghaier had agreed to kill Canadian citizens to force Canada to remove its military from Afghanistan. The Crown's evidence consisted mainly of intercepted communications and the testimony of an undercover U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation agent assigned to befriend Esseghaier. A jury could not reach a verdict for Jaser concerning the rail plot charge, but found him guilty of three other terrorism-related offences. The Supreme Court, following its usual practice, did not provide reasons for refusing to review Jaser's case. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2025.
National Observer
7 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Supreme Court of Canada considers appeal application from Via Rail terror case
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to decide Thursday whether to hear the appeal of Raed Jaser, who was convicted of planning to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group. It's the latest chapter in a long-running legal saga that began 12 years ago with charges against Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier for plotting attacks, including the planned sabotage of a Via Rail passenger train. The Crown alleged that Jaser and Esseghaier had agreed to kill Canadian citizens to force Canada to remove its military troops from Afghanistan. The Crown's evidence consisted mainly of intercepted communications and the testimony of an undercover US Federal Bureau of Investigation agent assigned to befriend Esseghaier. A jury could not reach a verdict for Jaser on the rail plot charge but found him guilty of three other terrorism-related offences: one count of conspiring to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group and two counts of participating in the activities of a terrorist group. Esseghaier was found guilty on all counts. The two men appealed their convictions. Counsel for Jaser and a court-appointed lawyer for Esseghaier argued the jury at the trial was improperly constituted. In August 2019, the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered a fresh trial for the men on the grounds that the jury was chosen incorrectly. The Crown successfully argued in a subsequent Supreme Court hearing that the convictions should not be overturned on the basis of an error in the jury-selection process that did not deny the men fair trial rights. With the jury issue settled, the top court remitted the case to the Ontario Court of Appeal to deal with the men's outstanding challenges of their convictions. While Esseghaier abandoned his appeal, Jaser persisted. Last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Jaser's challenge of his conviction and life sentence, prompting him to seek a fresh hearing at the Supreme Court. In a written submission to the top court to request a hearing, Jaser's lawyers say there is disagreement across Canada about how to instruct juries in conspiracy cases — a problem they say the court should address. "Jury instructions on the law of conspiracy are too complex," the brief says. "The facts of the proposed appeal present this Court with an ideal opportunity to guide trial judges on simplifying and distilling their instructions." Jaser's lawyers also raise questions about the application of the Canada Evidence Act concerning sensitive information and whether "entrapment-like conduct" should be taken into account upon sentencing. In a response to the Supreme Court, the Crown says Jaser's application should be dismissed. "These issues are not novel and were properly rejected by the Court of Appeal," the Crown's submission says. "Although the facts giving rise to them are unique, they are specific to the circumstances of the applicant and do not raise any issue of public importance."
Global News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Via Rail terror case: Supreme Court to decide whether to hear appeal
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to decide Thursday whether to hear the appeal of Raed Jaser, who was convicted of planning to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group. It's the latest chapter in a long-running legal saga that began 12 years ago with charges against Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier for plotting attacks, including the planned sabotage of a Via Rail passenger train. The Crown alleged that Jaser and Esseghaier had agreed to kill Canadian citizens to force Canada to remove its military troops from Afghanistan. The Crown's evidence consisted mainly of intercepted communications and the testimony of an undercover U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation agent assigned to befriend Esseghaier. A jury could not reach a verdict for Jaser on the rail plot charge but found him guilty of three other terrorism-related offences: one count of conspiring to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group and two counts of participating in the activities of a terrorist group. Esseghaier was found guilty on all counts. Story continues below advertisement The two men appealed their convictions. Counsel for Jaser and a court-appointed lawyer for Esseghaier argued the jury at the trial was improperly constituted. 2:00 Men found guilty in Via Rail terror plot granted new trial In August 2019, the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered a fresh trial for the men on the grounds that the jury was chosen incorrectly. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Crown successfully argued in a subsequent Supreme Court hearing that the convictions should not be overturned on the basis of an error in the jury-selection process that did not deny the men fair trial rights. With the jury issue settled, the top court remitted the case to the Ontario Court of Appeal to deal with the men's outstanding challenges of their convictions. While Esseghaier abandoned his appeal, Jaser persisted. Last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Jaser's challenge of his conviction and life sentence, prompting him to seek a fresh hearing at the Supreme Court. Story continues below advertisement In a written submission to the top court to request a hearing, Jaser's lawyers say there is disagreement across Canada about how to instruct juries in conspiracy cases — a problem they say the court should address. 'Jury instructions on the law of conspiracy are too complex,' the brief says. 'The facts of the proposed appeal present this Court with an ideal opportunity to guide trial judges on simplifying and distilling their instructions.' Jaser's lawyers also raise questions about the application of the Canada Evidence Act concerning sensitive information and whether 'entrapment-like conduct' should be taken into account upon sentencing. In a response to the Supreme Court, the Crown says Jaser's application should be dismissed. 'These issues are not novel and were properly rejected by the Court of Appeal,' the Crown's submission says. 'Although the facts giving rise to them are unique, they are specific to the circumstances of the applicant and do not raise any issue of public importance.'
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
In the news today: Air Canada labour trouble; two terrorism cases in court today
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed… Air Canada attendants vote for strike mandate Air Canada flight attendants have voted to give their union a strike mandate. The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees says members voted 99.7 per cent in favour. The mandate does not mean that a strike is guaranteed, only that union members support the measure if the bargaining team decides to call for a work stoppage. The vote kicked off July 28 and finished earlier Tuesday, after the airline and union concluded the conciliation process without reaching a deal. The two sides have been in contract talks since the start of the year. Judge to rule on bail in Quebec City land seizure A judge will rule today on whether to grant bail to three men facing terrorism charges in an alleged plot to forcibly seize land in the Quebec City area. Simon Angers-Audet, 24, Raphaël Lagacé, 25, and Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, face charges of facilitating a terrorist activity, and other charges related to the illegal storage of firearms and possession of explosives and prohibited devices. There is a publication ban on details of the bail hearing, which heard from an RCMP officer, the three accused and several of their family members. Quebec court Judge René de la Sablonnière heard evidence and arguments in July and was expected to rule last week, but informed lawyers he needed more time. Top court weighs appeal request in terrorism case The Supreme Court of Canada is set to decide Thursday whether to hear the appeal of Raed Jaser, who was convicted of planning to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group. It's the latest chapter in a long-running legal saga that began 12 years ago with charges against Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier for plotting attacks, including the planned sabotage of a Via Rail passenger train. The Crown alleged that Jaser and Esseghaier had agreed to kill Canadian citizens to force Canada to remove its military troops from Afghanistan. The Crown's evidence consisted mainly of intercepted communications and the testimony of an undercover U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation agent assigned to befriend Esseghaier. Salmonella outbreak linked to pistachios Nine people have been hospitalized, and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products. Recall warnings have been issued for some products from the brands Habibi, Al Mokhtar Food Centre and Dubai. The Public Health Agency of Canada says 52 cases of salmonella have been confirmed across four provinces, with the illnesses coming between early March and mid-July. Quebec has the most with 39, followed by Ontario with nine, British Columbia with three and Manitoba with one. Barbers see more teen clients due to TikTok Videos of barbers at work showcasing their talents are plentiful on TikTok, and young clients are taking notice. The trend on the short-form, video-sharing platform is helping to fuel interest in barbers in Quebec, who say they are seeing more hairstyle-savvy teenagers coming through their doors. Ophélia-Anna Nagar, a barber based in Quebec City, said she's been seeing new clientele at her two Quebec City salons. While men of all ages have been coming to the Menz Club since it opened in 2015, it's only in the past two years that the number of teenagers has exploded. 'We started to go viral among young people with the launch of … our content creation on TikTok with new trends,' Nagar said in an interview. Mboko's wild ride leads to semifinal showdown No longer a stranger to Canadian fans, or a lightweight on the Women's Tennis Association Tour, Victoria Mboko's captivating run from fearless wild-card entry to National Bank Open semifinalist continues tonight in Montreal. The 18-year-old Toronto tennis phenom, an NBO underdog who has captured the hearts and full attention of Canadians round by round at IGA Stadium, plays the ninth-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan on Centre Court with the winner earning a berth in tomorrow's singles final. Mboko is only the third wild-card player to reach the Canadian semifinals, and the first since Bianca Andreescu's title run in 2019. She's also the youngest woman to reach the semis since Belinda Bencic's 2015 win in Toronto. Mboko started the year ranked outside the top 300 and, by the end of the NBO tourney, will be ranked in the top 50 according to WTA live rankings. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025
