Sabrine Djermane and El Mahdi Jamali make court appearance

Two Montreal teenagers facing terrorism-related charges appeared incourtWednesdayto finalize plans for their preliminary hearing.

Sabrine Djermane,19, andEl Mahdi Jamali,18,are facing severalcharges including attempting to leave Canada to commit a terrorist actabroad, possession of an explosive substance, facilitating a terroristact and committing an act under the direction of or for the profit ofa terrorist organization.

Prosecutor Lyne Dcarie told Quebec Court Judge Hlne Morin that sheexpects17 witnesses to testify at the preliminary hearing.

Djermane and Jamali sat side by side at the prisoners box at thehearing.Jamali was in handcuffs and leg restraints. At one point, Jamalismiled and waved at a female relative in the courtroom.

The two CollegeMaisonneuvestudents, who are romantically linked,were arrested in April. They will remain in custody pending trial.

Three weeks have been set aside for the preliminaryhearing, which is set to run fromMay 11 toJune 3.