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Jury in Via Rail terror plot asks another question as deliberations continue

In this composite illustration, court sketches depict Toronto resident Raed Jaser (L) and Montreal resident Chiheb Esseghaier (R). Alex Tavshunsky, Global News/CP Images

TORONTO –  The 12-member jury deciding the fate of two men accused of plotting to derail a passenger train returned to court Friday with another question.

The jury started its tenth day of deliberations Friday and returned to seek advice on one remaining charge shortly before 11 a.m.

They have come to a unanimous decision on all but one charge. There’s no information on what charge that is or whether the unanimous decisions are guilty or not guilty.

The jury asked the judge whether it could render “no decision” on one of the charges. He said no.

Raed Jaser and Chiheb Esseghaier were arrested in 2013 following an extensive investigation into an alleged plot to kill people by derailing a Via Rail passenger train travelling between Canada and New York.

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Both men were charged with two counts of conspiracy and two counts of contributing to a terrorist group.

Esseghaier chose not to defend himself at his trial but did give a written plea to the jury during closing statements urging them to judge him based on the Qur’an.

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