TORONTO—One of two men facing terrorism charges in an alleged plot to derail a passenger train offered his “sincere advice” to jurors hearing his case on Wednesday.
The Criminal Code is a “book written by humans” and “humans are not perfect,” Chiheb Esseghaier said in a unusual written closing address.
“That’s why I required the Holy Qur'an as unique reference of my trial and the judgement of all matter of people’s life,” he wrote to the jury.
Esseghaier and his co-accused, Raed Jaser, face several terror-related charges in the alleged plot to derail a train travelling from New York to Toronto.
Esseghaier has refused to participate in his trial, did not call any evidence or witnesses in his defence and even had to have a not-guilty plea entered for him by the judge presiding over the case.
His submission to the jury was the first time the panel heard directly from him.
“I’m addressing you today because I want to give you sincere advice,” Esseghaier wrote in the statement, which was read to jurors by a lawyer appointed to assist the court.
“I encourage you to retreat from the charge that has been affected to you as a first step of your sincere repentance to God.”
Esseghaier’s submission was read to jurors at the end of a day during which a Crown prosecutor repeatedly said there was “overwhelming” evidence that the two accused were guilty.
Crown lawyer Croft Michaelson pointed out that jurors had heard more than 25 hours of secretly recorded conversations between the pair and an undercover FBI agent who gained their trust, heard from the officer himself and viewed video surveillance of their scouting missions to railway bridges.
Use Qur'an to Judge Me, Via Rail Terror Suspect Tells Jury
A Crown prosecutor says the “overwhelming” amount of evidence against two men accused of plotting to derail a Via Rail passenger train ought to convince jurors of the pair’s guilt.
Mohammed Jaser (L), father of Raed Jaser, and another family member father leave court in Toronto on April 23, 2013. Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier face multiple charges in connection with their alleged plot to derail a Via Rail train travelling from New York to Toronto. The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn
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They intended to carry out continuous acts of Jihad, continuous acts of terror.
