Fort St. John terror suspect heading directly to trial on federal charges
Othman Ayed Hamdan's case has been moved from Fort St. John to Vancouver
A Fort St. John man accused of distributing pro-ISIS propaganda online and instructing people to commit murder in the name of jihad will head directly to trial without a preliminary inquiry.
The Public Prosecution Service of Canada has decided to proceed by direct indictment against Othman Ayed Hamdan.
Hamdan's 15-day preliminary inquiry was scheduled to begin in Fort St. John this morning, but the matter was moved to B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.
PPSC spokeswoman Elizabeth Armitage wouldn't comment on the venue change, but court staff told CBC news it was due to security concerns.
Hamdan, 34, was originally facing six charges under the criminal code including three terrorism-related offences:
- Counselling to commit murder for the benefit of a terrorist group.
- Counselling to assault causing bodily harm for the benefit of a terrorist group.
- Counselling to commit aggravated assault for the benefit of a terrorist group.
Armitage says those charges have been stayed and "quite similar" federal charges have been filed.
Hamdan, who has been in custody since he was arrested 13 months ago, is due back in a Vancouver courtroom on August 26.
This will be only the second terrorism trial to be prosecuted under Bill C-51 in B.C.
John Nuttall and Amanda Korody's trial was the first.