Live Updates: Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich's trial continues on day 17

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The Democracy Fund, a Canadian charity, is supporting Tamara Lich by crowdfunding her legal bills. The cost of expert legal representation is $300,000, which Tamara, an ordinary mom and grandma from Medicine Hat, Alberta, cannot afford. But we have a secret weapon: Lawrence Greenspon, one of Ottawa's top lawyers, is on Tamara's side. Lawrence is accustomed to handling complex and serious cases, but his team is expensive — and they are worth every penny. If you can, please chip in to help cover Tamara's legal fees.

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The trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber continues on day 17 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. The Freedom Convoy demonstrations drew thousands of Canadians to Ottawa in early 2022 in opposition to COVID-19 restrictions.

Chris Barber and Tamara Lich are back at the Ottawa Courthouse for day 17 of their trial for charges stemming from the Freedom Convoy.https://t.co/52zo5bkxKr pic.twitter.com/CalynFTU0V

— Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) October 16, 2023

Watch a full recap of day 16 of the trial:

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:

Zexi Li's lawyer, Paul Champ - who's representing her as the lead plaintiff in a $290 class-action lawsuit against Barber, Lich, others - is in the courtroom. He's joined by a woman wearing a mask (new wave/variant?), who I think is his lawyer colleague.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

Zexi Li has two Ottawa Police Service officers escorting her in the courthouse - large men, FWIW - and with her in the courtroom during her testimony. I think this is some sort of security escort.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

Zexi Li - defiant, unaware, and/or reflexive - continued using the terms "occupation"/"occupied" several times in reference to the Freedom Convoy after the judge advised her that the terms "demonstration"/"protest" are preferred.https://t.co/REDe6gpuRmhttps://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

"I've never heard of Rebel News," another news media lady in court told me when I said who I'm with (this was just before proceedings). "Is that a right-wing site?", she asked, "Anti-vaxxer?" She was displeased when I told her I'm unconvinced the mRNA injections have any benefit.

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

Li says a motorist backed his truck into her (unclear if she was walking/driving) after she photographed jerry cans in someone's trunk. During the Freedom Convoy, Ottawa police were charging people with mischief for bringing fuel to protesting truckers.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

"Demonstrators in the area became hostile to me, which was demonstrated by shouting," Li says when she expressed her opposition to the Freedom Convoy to the protesters.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

"I felt intimidated by that encounter," Li says of a time she says was mocked by a Freedom Convoy motorist, which is the first use in the trial of a word specifically relating to the charges of intimidation and counselling others to commit intimidation.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

There's some elderly news media lady behind me in court wearing what I would describe as a semi-hardcore mask - clearly intended to be some sort of viral prophylactic re: COVID-19 - and I can hear every breath she takes, like a low-level Darth Vader. It's also not the first time.

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

After Li exits the courtroom following Magas's objection to her use of the term "occupation", the judge links Li's problematic use of the term by alluding to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Israel and Gaza, and the term's disputed use in that IHL context.

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

Judge says of Li's repeated use of the term "occupation": "It may detract from her credibility if she continues using inflammatory language." After Li returns, judge says she'd prefer Li use the terms "demonstration"/"protest" re: the Freedom Convoy.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

Zexi Li repeatedly describes the Freedom Convoy protest as an "occupation" - echoing martial language used by politicians/elected officials - leading to an objection from Diane Magas, Barber's attorney. Li is excused from the courtroom.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

Zexi Li testifies about harms she says she suffered as a result of the Freedom Convoy protest; honking/blaring airhorns were "constant", making life "extremely difficult" for her as a downtown resident, damaging her sleep and her focus for work-at-home.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023

Chris Barber and Tamara Lich trial day 17: Zexi Li, an Ottawa resident and lead plaintiff in a $290 class-action lawsuit against both codefendants and others, is testifying as the Crown's witness.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) October 16, 2023