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The judge said 20 years would be an “injustice” given sentencing precedents. He credited Ahmed with 12 months time served, reducing his sentence to 11 years.

Wakely said the sentence was less than the prosecution hoped for but it sends a strong message to others who might consider getting involved in a terrorist plot.

“Canadians are safer after this process than we were in 2010 when these two convicted men were conspiring,” he said. “So all told its been a good result and I want to credit the RCMP and CSIS for getting us here.”

Crown lawyers have 30 days to decide whether to appeal. They have decided against appealing the Sher acquittal.

Ertel said he was relieved that the judge accepted Ahmed’s expressions of remorse and psychological evidence that he is unlikely to re-offend.

Ahmed, he said, is anxious to work toward getting out of prison as soon as he can.

“Nobody who gets a sentence like that is feeling good,” Ertel said. “It’s a lengthy sentence. But he is a man of faith and he is going to continue to do all he can to get back to his family and be a contributing member of society.”

McKinnon had said that only “a hard-hearted judge” would not have been impressed by 75 letters of support he had received from friends and former co-workers but the fact remained that Ahmed was now a convicted terrorist.

“That carries with it an utterly deplorable stigma that is likely impossible to erase,” he said. “He has brought untold shame upon his family, his community, and peace-loving Muslims throughout this country.”

Turning to Ahmed, he added: “You will now have ample time to reflect on the fact that you enjoy the immense privilege of living in one of the great democracies in the free world. Whether you know it or not, you are a lucky man.”

ccobb@ottawacitizen.com

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