Khurram Sher terror trial wraps, verdict expected June 27
Closing arguments wrapped Monday in the terror trial of a Canadian doctor accused of joining an al-Qaeda inspired group.
London, Ont., pathologist Khurram Sher has pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to knowingly facilitate a terrorist activity.
The verdict is expected to be delivered on June 27.
The Crown’s case has revolved around a wiretapped meeting at an Ottawa townhouse on July 20, 2010.
It was there that Sher and two other men, one an old friend of his, discussed bomb making, sending money to the Taliban and appear to mention CFB Trenton as a potential target, according to the wiretap transcripts.
Those two other men cannot be identified because of a court order.
During closing arguments, Sher’s defence said the accused was brought to the July meeting without being warned about what was going to be discussed, and that Sher was only playing along with what the others were saying.
Defence lawyer Michael Edelson had earlier said Sher was deliberately non-committal with the others and was naïve about the double life of one of his friends.
But the prosecution argued that Sher knew the meeting was coming and was a part of the conspiracy beforehand.
After hearing arguments on Monday, Justice Charles Hackland asked lawyers to clarify some points before reviewing the case.
If Sher is found not guilty, he would be the first accused terrorist to avoid conviction under Canada’s new terrorism legislation.
