A 74-year-old Montreal man charged with trying to board an airplane with a suitcase containing explosive-related materials is anxious to tell his version of events.

Antony Piazza was arrested at Trudeau airport in 2013 after airport scanners discovered items including five bullets, some matches and wire in his carry-on luggage.

Piazza faces multiple charges including possession of an explosive substance; attempting to transport an explosive substance on an airplane; placing an object on a plane that was likely to endanger the aircraft; and mischief by endangering the safety of an airport or aircraft and disrupting activity at the airport.

He could face as many as 14 years in prison if convicted. The trial has been ongoing in the Montreal courthouse.

The accused was trying to board a flight for Los Angeles at Trudeau airport when the material was detected at a security checkpoint in the U.S. departures area.

Piazza's arrest led to a partial shutdown of Trudeau airport as well as a sweep by the Montreal bomb squad of his home in LaSalle. They found nothing.

Piazza has always maintained he was set up.

The defence tried to argue the presence of bullets, matches and wire was not enough to presume he was making a bomb. It asked the judge to acquit Piazza immediately.

The judge listened to both sides, and determined the trial should proceed.

“The evidence relies on the testimony of three witnesses: The police officer who arrested him. Another officer who intervened, and also an expert chemist,” said prosecutor Alexandre Gauthier.

The chemist called by the prosecution said the material could technically be used to build a detonator, but might not have been powerful enough to trigger an explosion.

Piazza said he wants to be heard in court when the trial resumes on Nov. 11, though the defence would not confirm if he would in fact testify. His lawyer said he will call his own chemist to the stand to contradict the Crown's expert.

He alleges the bomb-making material may have been placed in his luggage on a previous trip in Spain.