Latest news with #Jaser
Global News
4 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.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Supreme Court won't hear appeal application arising from Via Rail terror case
Published Aug 07, 2025 • 1 minute read Chiheb Esseghaier, left, and Raed Jaser are pictured at Toronto's University Ave. courthouse on Jan. 29, 2015. Photo by PAM DAVIES SKETCH / TORONTO SUN 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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. Columnists Celebrity Sunshine Girls Editorial Cartoons World
Winnipeg Free Press
4 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
5 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."
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Supreme Court of Canada weighs appeal application from Via Rail terror case
Published Aug 06, 2025 • Last updated 10 minutes ago • 2 minute read Chiheb Esseghaier, left, and Raed Jaser are pictured at Toronto's University Ave. courthouse on Jan. 29, 2015. Photo by PAM DAVIES SKETCH / TORONTO SUN OTTAWA — 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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.' Columnists Sunshine Girls World Sunshine Girls Opinion
