Straight to trial for 2 men charged in terror plot

9/23/2013

TORONTO  — Two men accused of plotting to derail a train in Canada with support from al-Qaeda will be heading straight to trial after federal prosecutors said they were bypassing a preliminary inquiry into the case.

Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier were arrested in April in connection with a plot to derail a Via passenger train running between New York City and Montreal.

The prosecution announced its decision in court today.

Esseghaier, a Tunisian national, repeated his familiar refrain that he wants a lawyer who will use the Qur’an as a reference, not Canada’s Criminal Code.

He refused to be led away by a female court officer at the end of his appearance, telling her, “You are not my wife.”

Both return to court Oct. 21 to set a trial date.