Accused In Toronto 18 Case Pleads Guilty To Terrorist Offences

Another accused in the so-called Toronto 18 terror case pleaded guilty Friday to participating in a terrorist group, a move that will see him serve one more day behind bars.

Jahmaal James made the surprise plea in a Brampton, Ont., courtroom.

Having already served more than three-and-a-half years in pre-trial custody, he was sentenced to one more day.

“This was a very hard, arduous and difficult time for him but I think now he can look forward to sort of doing things differently,” his lawyer Donald McLeod said outside court.

“He’s a very smart young man. I think that he has a lot going for him.”

According to an agreed statement of facts, the Muslim convert travelled from Toronto to Pakistan to obtain paramilitary training in November 2005. He hoped to use the training to benefit a group he had joined that was committed to furthering the cause of violent jihad.

James fell seriously ill and the plan was disrupted, the statement reads.

“The Crown does not allege that James actually received paramilitary training,” Crown prosecutor James Wakely said.

According to the statement, James became “disgruntled by the reckless manner” in which the Toronto terror group was being led.

Court heard he severed ties with the group before his arrest on June 2, 2006.

“He still embraces the religion,” McLeod said.

“But he realizes he may have aligned himself with a portion that was not really to his liking and that’s what he disengaged from.”

James and 17 others were arrested and charged with terrorism offences in 2006 and came to be known as the Toronto 18.

Six, including James, have pleaded guilty and two have been found guilty by a judge.

Three others face trial and seven had their charges stayed.

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