Saad Khalid, shown in court Tuesday in this artist's rendering, told Ontario Superior Court Justice Bruce Durno he can still do a lot of good. (Alex Tavshunsky)

The lawyer for a Toronto man who was convicted for his role in a terror plot aimed at blowing up several Toronto landmarks says his client's sentence shouldn't exceed two more years in jail, taking into account time already served

Russell Silverstein made the request Tuesday at a sentencing hearing for Saad Khalid at Ontario Superior Court.

Khalid, 22, pleaded guilty in May to taking part in the plot to detonate bombs over three days at Toronto landmarks, including the Toronto Stock Exchange and the headquarters of CSIS, Canada's spy agency.

He was among 17 males charged in the Toronto area after an investigation by CSIS. Khalid has already spent 39 months in prison.

The request for the two-year term was part of a complicated argument from Silverstein, who initially recommended a sentence of 10 years and three months. But eight years should be cut from that sentence in light of the three years already served, said Silverstein — particularly since the three weeks after Khalid's arrest were "horrific."

In that time, Khalid was routinely strip-searched, awakened by guards every 20 minutes as they checked his cell, and kept in solitary confinement 23 hours a day, said Silverstein.

'Huge mistake'

Khalid himself addressed the court, saying he accepted responsibility for his actions and he knew he made "a huge mistake." He said he wasn't motivated by hate for Canada, but rather his opposition to Canada's military involvement in Afghanistan.

"I realize this does not justify my actions in any way but it is important for me to have my motive known so people understand that I am not a lunatic who is hell-bent on the destruction of Western civilization," he told the Brampton, Ont., courtroom.

"I never wanted to hurt anyone and am glad no one ever did."

He also said he wants to live a peaceful life, believes he can do a lot of good and vowed to never break the law again.

"I need a second chance and I do not think that keeping me in jail and throwing away the key will be good for society or for me," he said.

"I still have strong political views that may be shared by other Muslim youth and I want to work towards providing a venue where there can be discussion in hopes of preventing someone going down the same path I did."

Follower, not leader

Khalid was arrested in the summer of 2006 while unloading what he believed was three tonnes of ammonium nitrate, an explosive material used in bomb making.

Saad Khalid, in an undated photo, was one of 17 males arrested June 2, 2006, in what police and security officials described as a home-grown terrorist ring. (Reuters)

Throughout Khalid's sentencing hearing, Silverstein has depicted his client as a bit player in the plot who was just doing what he was told and was never a ringleader.

Silverstein repeated that characterization Tuesday, describing his client as "not a guiding voice in this conspiracy, [but] more of a 'go-fer' than anything else."

Crown prosecutors, on the other hand, have characterized him as an active participant in the plot. Crown Attorney Croft Michaelson said in June that Khalid must have been "wilfully blind" if he didn't know the terror cell wanted to harm or kill people.

Twelve adults and five youths were charged with several terrorism-related offences. Seven of them have since had their charges dropped.

One person, a minor at the time of his arrest, was convicted of conspiring to bomb several targets and sentenced to 2½ years in prison last May. The remaining individuals have yet to stand trial.

The offences allegedly took place between March and June 2006 in Mississauga, Ont., and a rural township near Orillia, Ont.

A sentence for Khalid is expected Sept. 3.

With files from The Canadian Press and Victoria Foley