Posted on 05/05/2009 7:20:13 PM PDT by fanfan
A young Mississauga man has pleaded guilty to intending to cause an explosion, the first time a member of the so-called Toronto 18 group has admitted the existence of a bomb plot.
At a trial last year of a co-accused, prosecutors alleged some of the group's members were planning to bomb sites such as the Toronto Stock Exchange, RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, the Pickering nuclear power station and the Toronto offices of Canada's spy agency, located next to the CN Tower.
In an unexpected move, Saad Khalid, 22, entered his plea on Monday but Justice Bruce Durno banned publication of the plea until late Tuesday, when it was lifted after submissions by three media groups, including the Toronto Star.
Khalid was among 14 adults charged with four youths during a massive police sweep in the summer of 2006 that garnered international headlines. Charges against three youths and four adults have since been stayed. One youth was convicted last fall of belonging to a terrorist group and attending a December 2005 training camp in Washago, Ont.
Khalid was charged with knowingly participating in a terrorist group, receiving training for the purpose of enhancing the ability of a terrorist group and doing anything with "intent to cause an explosion of an explosive substance that was likely to cause serious bodily harm or death."
He pleaded guilty to the last count. Khalid's lawyer, Russell Silverstein, said Tuesday that he anticipates the other two counts against his client will be withdrawn.
The change in plea came after much discussion with Crown prosecutors, said Silverstein, adding it will be up to them to call Khalid as a witness in the case of the remaining nine adults.
"The reasons for Mr. Khalid's decision to plead now are his own," said Silverstein. "As in most cases of this nature, sometimes pleading guilty is the best way to ensure a just result."
Central to the Crown's case against this homegrown terror cell are that there are two alleged conspiracies: that some members attended a terrorist training camp and that some purchased three tonnes of ammonium nitrate that was destined for truck bombs.
"While Saad Khalid entered a guilty plea, no agreed statement of facts was entered or admitted and there has been no finding of guilt or conviction," wrote Durno in his ruling Tuesday.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 22, which will determine the extent of Khalid's involvement in the bomb plot. Prior to that, prosecutors, defence counsel and lawyers for the media will be back in court on June 16 arguing whether the case against Khalid can be published without the rights of his co-accused to a fair trial being prejudiced.
Ping....
I guess the rest of them were innocent.
/s needed?
Nah.
Hey.
It seems like we have willfully shut our eyes.
:-(
Not your’s truly......
Thank you for this update and ping fanfan.
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