TORONTO — A judge has agreed to order a mental health assessment for one of two men found guilty of terrorism charges in a case involving a plot to derail a passenger train.
A lawyer appointed by the court to assist the self-represented Chiheb Esseghaier had asked for the assessment, saying the Tunisian national's mental health is "a real issue" in the case.
Justice Michael Code says he's ordering the assessment because while he doesn't think strong religious beliefs are equated with mental disorder, he doesn't know if there's anything about Esseghaier's personality that might make him more susceptible to religious fervour.
Esseghaier, who refused to participate in his trial because he wanted to be judged under the rules of the Qur'an, told the court he doesn't mind talking to doctors because he's always eager to share his religious values.
He says that doesn't mean he's acknowledging he has any mental problems.
Crown prosecutors argued that Esseghaier has extreme religious beliefs but said a mental health assessment wasn't necessary for the sentencing phase of the trial.
Esseghaier and his co-accused , Raed Jaser, were found guilty in March of a terror-related conspiracy to commit murder, which carries a sentence of up to life in prison. The jury also found the men guilty of six other terror-related charges between them.
