Guilty verdict in terrorism plot against the Maple Leaf

Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier, two men accused of plotting to derail a Via passenger train travelling between Canada and the U.S., have been found guilty of a series of terror-related charges.

Esseghaier was found guilty of all charges against him while Jaser was convicted on all but one charge. After 10 days of deliberation, the jury said it was "irrevocably deadlocked" on the charge against Jaser of "conspiring to interfere with transportation facilities for the benefit of a terrorist group."

But Judge Michael Code told jurors he would accept their unanimous decision on the other charges.

Among other charges, both men were found guilty of conspiring to commit murder for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group.

Jaser’s lawyer had argued that his client was only pretending to be interested in the plan as part of an elaborate scheme to extract money from Esseghaier and the undercover officer.

Both men could face maximum punishment of life in prison.

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