Via Rail terror plot appeal

A man found guilty of plotting to derail a Via Rail passenger train between Canada and the U.S. is planning to appeal his conviction.

Chiheb Esseghaier argues he should have been judged by the rules of the Qur’an. He’s filed an inmate notice of appeal with Ontario’s highest court in which he says the trial judge erred in refusing to allow the trial to be conducted pursuant to the holy Qur’an instead of the criminal code.

Esseghaier and his co-accused, Raed Jaser were found guilty last march on a total of eight terror-related charges between them.

Esseghaier refused a lawyer and represented himself throughout his trial, often went on rambling rants in the courtroom and even prayed in the prisoner’s dock on occasion. They were sentenced to life in prison in late September, with no chance of parole until 2023.

Jaser is also appealing his conviction.