Jury picked for trial of Montreal couple facing terror charges

Twelve jurors and two alternates have been selected in the case of a young Montreal couple —​ Sabrine Djermane and El Mahdi Jamali.

They were teenagers when they were charged with terrorism-related offences in 2015.

Djaermane, 21, and Jamali, 20, are each facing four charges:

• Attempting to leave Canada to commit a terrorist act.
• Possession of an explosive substance.
• Facilitating a terrorist act.
• Committing an act under the direction of, or for the profit of a terrorist organization.

Djermane and Jamali were 19 and 18 respectively, living together and attending Collège de Maisonneuve at the time of their arrests.

During jury selection at the Montreal courthouse Tuesday, Superior Court Justice Marc David asked each potential juror if the fact that Djermane and Jamali were Muslims charged with terrorism offences would affect their impartiality.

Most said no.

Six men and eight women were selected. David said he would determine Wednesday morning which two of the 14 jurors will serve as alternates.

The judge will offer instructions to the jury Wednesday morning, then the Crown will lay out details of its case against the pair.

The Crown says it will call 31 witnesses. The trial is expected to last 10 weeks.