Trial set for couple accused of terror offences

Both students at Collège de Maisonneuve

Sabrine Djermane and El Mahdi Jamali did not appear in court Monday, but at last a date was set for the two CEGEP students accused of terrorism-related offences.

On Sept. 16, Djermane, 19 and Jamali, 18, will learn when their trial will begin.

Arrested in April, they are accused of attempting to go abroad in order to commit a terrorist act, possession of an explosive substance to commit a criminal act, facilitating an act of terrorism and having acted under the direction of or for the benefit of a terrorist group.

In June they were both denied bail after a four-day hearing that saw a dozen witnesses testify, including several members of their families.

The hearing was the subject of a publication ban however, so any evidence presented cannot be reported.

But the judge ruled in favour of the Crown, who argued that the couple should be kept behind bars until their trial, because they were both a flight risk and a danger to the public.

Like several of the youths who allegedly left for the Middle East in January to join terrorist groups, both were students at Collège de Maisonneuve.

On Monday, Djermane’s lawyer, Charles Benmouyal, would not comment on how his client is faring after almost three months in jail.

But he said Djermane is keen and committed to testifying and “getting to the bottom of what happened.”

“From the beginning my client has had every intention of clarifying the situation and she wants a trial,” Benmouyal said.

Both Djermane and Jamali have pleaded not guilty to the accusations.