Toronto 18 Terrorist Leader Pleads Guilty

[Keepitsimple]

So.......Fahim Ahmad has pleaded guilty. Fortunately, he was nabbed before he could carry out his sick plans which obviously would have resulted in deaths and destruction. Although he may have duped some of his younger followers, his intentions were clear. His sentence will no doubt set a "precedent" for terrorist sentencing in Canada. I just cannot find it in myself to look for compassion in cases where indiscriminate murder and mayhem is contemplated. Do you think they'll throw the book at him - or will the fact that he never got to carry out his plan earn him a light sentence? What sentence do you think would be appropriate?

The jury heard earlier in the trial that Ahmad was the leader of a terror cell and held two training camps to assess his recruits' suitability.

Court was told Ahmad planned to attack Parliament, electrical grids and nuclear stations.

All three men were charged with participating in a terrorist group and Ahmad was also charged with instructing people to carry out activities for a terrorist group and a weapons offence.

Link: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100510/national/terror_trial

Edited May 10, 2010 by Keepitsimple

[Moonbox]

I bet 5 years...with the chance of parole after 2 weeks.

Seems that's how justice works in this country.

[Bob]

My heart tells me that he should receive a very severe sentence, like the death penalty. Since we don't practise that in Canada, though, the amateur lawyer in me says that his sentence should be somewhat inspired by whatever similar cases we've had in the past. Since similar cases perhaps don't exist, precedents from cases as close as possible should be used as guides in the sentencing.

Hopefully this guy gets puts away for a long time.

[Guest American Woman]

Do you think they'll throw the book at him - or will the fact that he never got to carry out his plan earn him a light sentence?

I think he'll get a light sentence because he didn't commit any acts of terror. He was arrested in 2006, so does that mean he'll get credit for '2 for 1' since then? If so, isn't it possible he won't serve any time at all?

What sentence do you think would be appropriate?

Since he's pleading guilty, ten years.

[Borg]

I am sure he will be happy with the final sentence and yet there will be apologists in Canada that will still decry his "heavy" sentence.

He is only one of many to come and some will be successful.

Borg

Edited May 10, 2010 by Borg

[Smallc]

I bet 5 years...with the chance of parole after 2 weeks.

Seems that's how justice works in this country.

Well, those are the stories that make the news, anyway.

[Handsome Rob]

Doesn't a guilty plea suggest a bargain?

[Argus]

Well, those are the stories that make the news, anyway.

Every murder sentence makes the news. Every serial rape, even most rape sentences, every serious assault too.

[Smallc]

Every murder sentence makes the news. Every serial rape, even most rape sentences, every serious assault too.

And many of the sentences are long. People simply don't focus on them. The man who held hostage my dad got 8 years. Some people get less. Some people get more.

Edited May 11, 2010 by Smallc

[Argus]

And many of the sentences are long. People simply don't focus on them. The man who held hostage my dad got 8 years. Some people get less. Some people get more.

The sentences are usually not long, and the sentences are deceptive when the criminal can get a 2for1 for time served, then be on day parole after 1/6th of their sentence is served.

You have to remember that time served does not come off until the sentence is handed out. A person who has spent a year and a half in pre-trial custody and gets credit for 3 years has thus, according to the system, served 3 years of his theoretical 8 year sentence. Therefore he is immediately elligible for full parole. And the most time he can serve is three "more" years, because that will bring him to the 2/3rds mandatory supervision point.

[Smallc]

A person who has spent a year and a half in pre-trial custody and gets credit for 3 years has thus, according to the system, served 3 years of his theoretical 8 year sentence.

The trial took about 2 months. He has now served nearly the full 8 years.

[Shwa]

I think he'll get a 10-15 year sentence and part of the plea bargain was not getting life or 25 years. He will likely be eligible for parole in 5. What will be more interesting is where they will send him to serve his sentence and what his rehabilitation program will consist of.