Jury At Via Rail Terror Trial Still Deadlocked On 1 Of 9 Terror Charges

TORONTO — A Toronto jury deadlocked on one of nine terror-related charges against two men accused of plotting to derail a passenger train has been told it can be discharged on the specific count.

Justice Michael Code, who presided over the trial of Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier, told jurors he has the power to accept their unanimous decisions on the eight other charges.

Code's comments to the jury were in response to a question from the 12-member panel — their sixth since being sequestered on March 11.

On Wednesday, the jury said it had reached a unanimous verdict on all charges against one of the accused, but it was at an impasse over some of the charges against the other.

Code says that if, after deliberating further, the jury is still unable to reach a consensus on the one remaining charge, he will accept their verdicts on all the other charges in the case.

Jaser and Esseghaier are charged with two counts of conspiracy and two counts of participating in or contributing to a terrorist group. Esseghaier also faces a fifth terror-related charge.

Esseghaier didn't participate in his trial because he wanted to be judged by the rules of the Qur'an.

Jaser's lawyer has argued his client didn't intend to carry out any terrorist activities, but was only feigning interest as part of an elaborate con to extract money from Esseghaier and the undercover agent.