Misbahuddin Ahmed back in court for terrorism charges sentencing

A sentencing hearing begins today for a former Ottawa hospital technician found guilty of two terrorism-related charges.

• Related:Khurram Sher not guilty in al-Qaeda-linked terror trial

A jury found Misbahuddin Ahmed guilty in July of conspiring to knowingly facilitate a terrorist activity and participating in the activities of a terrorist group after an eight-week trial.

Conspiring to knowingly facilitate a terrorist activity carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, while participation in the activities of a terrorist group has a 10-year maximum term.

Monday's hearingis the first of likely three days lawyers for both the Crown and defence will make arguments about the length of sentence. The other court dates have yet to be scheduled.

Crown had argued Ahmed wasa 'committedjihadist'

Crown lawyers said during the trial that Ahmed was a "committed jihadist" with an eye on potential Canadian targets, and pointed to the discovery of a bag in his basement they alleged held bomb-making materials.

Ahmed and his defence said during the trial that he was trying to stop a planned attack and was planning to destroy the contents of the bag, which he received from another man.

The jury heard how the RCMP had tapped Ahmed's phone and videotaped him meeting with that same man, whose name is covered under a publication ban.

A third man whose voice was recorded in police surveillance former London, Ont., pathologist Khurram Sher was found not guilty in August of planning terrorist activity.