‘Realistic probability’ Montreal man charged with terrorism-related offence will plead guilty: lawyer

The Montreal man whose charge of uttering threats is being treated as a terrorist offence for allegedly telling a homeless shelter worker that he understood how to make explosives, wanted to make bombs and then use them on public transit to kill a large number of people, was back in court Monday.

BACKGROUND: Man with al-Qaida links charged with threatening attack in Montreal

Legal aid lawyer Vincent Petit, who is representing the 51-year old Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, said there is a realistic probability his client will plead guilty when he makes his next court appearance on Oct. 1.

Warsame, who appeared by video conference wearing a grey sweatshirt, said he prefers to stay in prison until then. Warsame had no fixed address at the time of his arrest.

“The case of Mr. Warsame was back in front of the Court of Quebec today for a bail hearing,” said Samuel Monfette-Tessier, the federal Crown prosecutor for the case.

“He waived his right for a bail hearing, which means that he will remain detained until the continuation of the proceedings or if he asks for a review.”

Because the charge of uttering threats against Warsame is now being treated as a terrorist offence, the maximum punishment increases from five years to life in prison.

“What we’re arguing would be at a sentencing hearing, we would present evidence to the effect that what he did also constitutes a terrorist activity as defined in the criminal code under section 83.01. So we will need to prove that beyond a reasonable doubt. And if the judge follows us, the maximum penalty becomes life imprisonment instead of five years,” explained Monfette-Tessier.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has revealed that Warsame, a Somali-born Canadian, attended lectures by Osama Bin Laden and spent 92 months in an American federal prison after pleading guilty in 2009 for providing material support to al-Qaida.

Warsame recently underwent a psychiatric evaluation at the Philippe-Pinel Psychiatric Institute to determine if he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of his alleged crime, but this report is not available to the public after it was put under seal at the request of the defence.

“The next appearance is October 1 in front of the Court of Quebec. There are negotiations between the parties. We could be fixing a trial date. He could plead guilty. There’s a lot of possibilities at the next date and we’ll know more on October 1,” said Monfette-Tessier.