Arrested Via Rail Plot Suspect Vows to go to Trial without Lawyer

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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VIA Rail terrorism suspect Chiheb Esseghaier seems to be mentally prepared to go to trial without a lawyer, since it looks like he is not ready to keep a lawyer who will put the Qur’an above the legal system. During an appearance via video link from the Toronto (Don) Jail at a scheduling hearing on Monday at Old City Hall courthouse, Mr. Esseghaier persisted that he does not wants a lawyer who does not plans to put the Qur’an first.

A Montreal resident, Esseghaier, and a resident of Toronto, Raed Jaser, were each charged with plotting an Al Qaeda-sponsored attack to derail a passenger train between Toronto and New York. Brydie Bethell was representing Mr. Jaser during the court proceedings on Monday, while Esseghaier once again appeared alone and reiterated his stance in court alleging not to keep any lawyer who doesn’t give primacy to his holy book. Both suspects have been charged with five different offences, including conspiring with a terrorist group.

Esseghaier’s stance on Monday remains pretty much same to the one he made in earlier court appearances as he claims to be judged by the Qur’an alone, and not the Criminal Code. A majority of the conversation made on the video link on Monday was incomprehensible, as he spoke quickly responded, “no I don’t,” upon inquiry if he needed a lawyer. He elucidated that if a prospective lawyer didn’t put the Qur’an first, then he didn’t want him or her, alleging that “any lawyer who refuse that need, goodbye to him.”