Lawyer sought out accused in hostage-taking
Question of national security piqued Caryma Sa’d’s interest in the case of Michael Storms
Lawyer Caryma Sa’d was always taught that legal counsel shouldn’t address the media. But her new client — one she sought out herself after reading about his file — has demanded her candour. So Sa’d is ready to be an open book. The case of Michael Storms, 35, charged with forcible confinement and uttering threats in a hostage- taking on June 28, “has been on my radar since the get-go,” Sa’d said.
After reading reports of the incident and dog-earring any follow-ups, the 28-year-old University of Ottawa graduate started to notice “a couple intersections” where her life overlapped with Storms.
Sa’d has a Muslim background. Storms is a Muslim convert.
And the question of national security has piqued Sa’d’s interest since law school. In a phone call to the Star on June 28, Storms alleged that he’s been under RCMP and CSIS surveillance for decades.
“Between all of those factors, I de- cided, what’s the harm?” Sa’d said.
She reached out to Storms and asked to meet at the Detention Centre, where he’s been held while searching for a lawyer.
Storms has been marked by the courts for mental-health assessment, and Sa’d said he presented valid arguments during their meeting. As a criminal lawyer, she said she has experience working with clients with mental-health issues.
The major departure from Sa’d’s average client has been Storms’ insistence on documenting his case. “Obviously he has a story that he wants publicized,” Sa’d said. Storms has insisted the publication ban be waived for his file.
“So it’s a balancing act really, between respecting what he wants out of the process and making sure it’s done above board and correctly,” Sa’d said.
She believes that her client’s case is not just about the events of June 28 that occurred at an Eglinton West massage parlour, but also about an alleged investigation by Canadian authorities.
“I won’t go too much into this, but there is some evidence that he has been on the CSIS/RCMP radar and it reached a breaking point,” Sa’d said.