BRAMPTON -- Four meek-looking teenagers, one in shackles, arrived at a heavily guarded Brampton courthouse yesterday to kick off what will likely be one of the most closely watched trials in Canadian history. More than seven months after 17 suspects were arrested in a high-profile anti-terror bust in the Toronto area, preliminary hearings began for four of the accused, all of them young offenders. Security at the Brampton courthouse, where bail hearings for the suspects had also taken place last year, was far tighter than normal. In addition to the metal detectors at the front entrance, another metal detector was set up outside Courtroom 107, which is now almost exclusively reserved for this case. About half a dozen extra Peel Regional Police officers guarded the area directly outside the courtroom. Using temporary doors, police effectively cordoned off a small wing of the courthouse where the hearing is taking place. Onlookers were also prohibited from sitting in the first two rows of courtroom benches. Nadir Sachak, the lawyer for one of the young offenders, described the increased security as a "bit of an overreaction," but added that it wasn't too much of an inconvenience to the defence counsels, who have been given special passes in order to avoid being searched every time they entered the courtroom area. Despite the added security, proceedings moved smoothly yesterday. The only delay was due to an ice storm that held up traffic on most GTA highways throughout the morning. Three of the four suspects had already been granted bail last year, and arrived at the courthouse with family members. One wore a dark suit and tie, the others were more casually dressed. The fourth suspect is still in custody, so police escorted him into a prisoner's box in shackles, which the presiding judge later ordered removed. All evidence presented in the trial is under a publication ban, and the young offenders cannot be identified by law. In June, 17 suspects were arrested and charged with terror-related offences, including attending a training camp and plotting to blow up several buildings in downtown Toronto and mount an armed attack on Parliament Hill. An 18th suspect was arrested in August. Yesterday, at the preliminary hearing for the four young offenders, the Brampton courtroom was relatively full, as family members and media arrived to watch. Two attorneys spoke for the Crown, accompanied by police officers familiar with the investigation that led to the June arrests. Opposite them, four lawyers for the teens occasionally made minor motions, but otherwise let the Crown make its opening statements without much objection. The suspects and their families were expressionless throughout most of the daylong proceedings, including the beginning of the hearing, when the charges against the teens were read out. The Crown is asking that the young offenders be sentenced as adults. That gives the suspects the right to request a preliminary inquiry and a trial by judge and jury. All four suspects requested both. Despite the increased media and police presence, most of yesterday's proceedings were formalities. By the time any evidence was presented later in the afternoon, two of the three suspects out on bail had already left the courtroom. Other than occasionally exchanging whispers with their attorneys, the two remaining suspects made no contact with anyone else throughout most of the proceedings. The process that began yesterday could take years to complete. About two months have been booked for the preliminary inquiry into the charges against the four young offenders. It is unclear how much longer an actual trial could take.That still leaves the adult suspects, several of whom face more serious charges and have been behind bars since their arrest in June. Their hearings will likely strain the resources of both defence and Crown attorneys, who are still sifting through millions of pages worth of documents.

The hearing for the four young offenders continues today in Brampton.

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