A man who was arrested after authorities found explosive materials in his suitcase as he was about to board a passenger flight at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport was acquitted on Thursday on all the charges he faced.
Antony Piazza, 75, wept as Quebec Court Judge Thierry Nadon explained why he found there was enough reasonable doubt to acquit him on the four charges filed against him at the Montreal courthouse in 2013. Nadon paid particular attention to how Piazza reacted when a Montreal police officer was called in to do a thorough inspection of his suitcase, on Oct. 27, 2013, while Piazza was preparing to board a flight to see his brother in California.
The police officer who found a disposable pen, match heads, wires and bullets stuffed inside the extendable handle of the suitcase even testified, during the trial, that Piazza appeared to be surprised at what was happening. An airport security official requested the search after seeing an x-ray of the suitcase.
The materials were later determined to be enough for someone to make a homemade detonator with. An expert who testified at the trial said it would have caused an explosion similar to a firecracker but without any explosives to detonate little, if any, damage would have been done to the airplane.
Late last year, Piazza testified at length about how he suspected the materials were planted inside the handle by a man he had visited in Spain during a previous trip. He said the visit went poorly because Piazza insisted the man pay him $40,000 due on a real estate investment they were partners in. Piazza appeared to ramble on at times when he testified in November while he described what happened during that trip to Spain.
Nadon said on Thursday that he had doubts about Piazza’s credibility but that there was also enough doubt to acquit him as well.
“I’m happy because my client is happy,” said defence lawyer Charles Benmouyal. “He had something to say and he said it. That is why we went to trial.”
Prosecutor Alexandre Gautier said he will read a copy of the decision, when it becomes available, before deciding on whether to pursue an appeal. Piazza is still charged with violating the conditions of his bail while the case was pending.
