Live Updates: Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich's trial continues on day 14
The trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber continues on day 14 today in Ottawa. As two of the most prominent faces of the Freedom Convoy, Lich and co-accused Chris Barber are facing charges of mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief, and intimidation.Β The Freedom Convoy demonstrations drew thousands of Canadians to Ottawa in early 2022 in opposition to COVID-19 restrictions.
Tamara Lich and Chris Barber arrive at the Ottawa Courthouse for day 14 of their trial.
β Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) October 11, 2023
Both are facing multiple charges in relation to the Freedom Convoy.https://t.co/52zo5bkxKr pic.twitter.com/qKyRsMxSff
Rebel News reporter Robert Kraychik is once again reporting from inside the Ottawa courthouse and will be providing live updates. Videographer Lincoln Jay is also on the scene to cover all of the reactions and commentary from outside the courthouse.
Follow along below:
Barber's lawyer plays videos related to the Freedom Convoy (protest footage; Barber's selfie social media videos; even a Fox News clip w/@TuckerCarlson) while cross-examining a Crown witness OPS officer, noting the exclusion of such content from his video montage/compilation.
β Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 11, 2023
Barber's lawyer Diane Magas just played a clip of @TuckerCarlson's interview with Csaba Vizi, who was beaten by police during the Freedom Convoy; interesting moment of fusion between news media and the justice system.https://t.co/3ERX3EoWbOhttps://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
β Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 11, 2023
"We don't need violence. We need peace," Barber said in a social media video published during the Freedom Convoy and just played in the courtroom by his lawyer. He praised "the amount of smiles [and] the amount of hugs we've seen" during the protest.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
β Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 11, 2023
"We've had nothing but peace the entire time. We want to keep that going," Barber said in a video published to his social media profiles for supporters during the Freedom Convoy and just played by his lawyer in court. "We're all about peaceful protests."https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
β Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 11, 2023
Update from @rkraychik on day 14 of the trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.
β Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) October 11, 2023
The judge will allow several of the Crown's requested witnesses (Ottawa residents) to testify; denying Lich's and Barber's lawyers' request to exclude them on the basis of irrelevant testimony.β¦ pic.twitter.com/WA2F6PT5ng
Judge says she'll allow the Crown's requested witnesses - who are Ottawa residents claiming to have been harmed by the Freedom Convoy - to testify, adds, "[I] will carefully exercise [my] duty [to ensure] only relevant and probative evidence from these witnesses [is] considered."
β Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 11, 2023
Judge reads aloud the defenses' request to preclude certain witnesses requested by the Crown, and the prosecution's response and rejection of the defenses' offered admission (which seeks to render the witnesses' testimonies as redundant/irrelevant).https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
β Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 11, 2023
Day 14 Tamara Lich/Chris Barber trial; Crown is STILL framing the Freedom Convoy as a non-peaceful protest; argues that its requested witnesses are needed to "rebut any suggestion that this was a peaceful process".https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
β Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 11, 2023

