The judge presiding over the Chris Carbert and Anthony Olienick trial in Lethbridge, AB, advised jurors that “no evidence” existed of political interference over the police, the Crown, or the court during Friday’s proceedings.

During her opening remarks on Thursday, Marilyn Burns, who is representing Olienick, described the trial as a "political criminal trial” that is “un-Canadian”.

Justice David Labrenz said, “There is -- to my mind -- no evidence that either the police, or the Crown, or the court has been acting under the influence of the political sphere.”

He went on to say: ”As you understand things ... the court, the executive, and the legislative branches are separate. … Ms. Burns stated, ‘This is truly a political criminal trial.’ Further, she suggested various ways the police were acting under the orders of politicians. I remind you that each and every one of you -- together with myself, Crown counsel, and defense counsel -- are here to do our storm duty: administration of justice.”

Lawyers claims - either from the Crown or defense teams - do not constitute evidence in a court if law, Justice David Labrenz explains to jurors. He said this in response to Marilyn Burns, Anthony Olienick's defense lawyer, stating yesterday that this is "a political, criminal…

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) July 12, 2024

Carbert and Olienick are accused of conspiring to murder police officers during their time at the 2022 Coutts protest and blockade, a peaceful and civilly disobedient demonstration against the decrees, edicts, and orders issued by different levels of government and marketed as “public health” measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

The judge reiterated the requirement dor jurors to extend the presumption of innoence to the accuaed. If jurors are unsure what version of events to trust, he added, they must acquit the defendants.

Labrenz also told jurors that information in lawyers’ opening statements do not constitute evidence and mustn't be interpreted as evidence.