Live Updates: Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich's trial enters day 12
Lich previously spent almost 50 days behind bars on non-violent offences in relation to her role as an organizer of the anti-mandate demonstrations.
The trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber continues on day 12 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.
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.
Pastor Henry Hildebrandt is at the Ottawa Courthouse to support Tamara Lich and Chris Barber on day 12 of their trial. https://t.co/52zo5bkxKr pic.twitter.com/vJHBE9siR7
— Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) September 21, 2023
Today's proceedings are starting with a continuation of discussion from the defence about testimony from Kim Ayotte, Ottawa's general manager of emergency & protective services.
Day 12 of the Tamara Lich/Barber trial; a continuation of Lawrence Greenspon's cross-examination of Kim Ayotte's composition of an affidavit used to obtain an injunction to allow Ottawa by-law to enter the "red zone" of the Freedom Convoy.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 21, 2023
Ottawa by-law officers were prohibited from operating normally within the Freedom Convoy's "red zone" due to an Ottawa Police Service directive; a court-issued injunction was needed to allow them to do their jobs in restricted areas during the protest.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 21, 2023
Kim Ayotte's sworn affidavit was produced for the purpose of obtaining an injunction from a judge towards this end, and Lawrence Greenspon emphasized the legal requirement for affidavits to be honestly and comprehensively composed.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 21, 2023
Lawrence Greenspon said to Kim Ayotte: "[You had] a duty to be full in your content, to be frank, and to be fair," in his affidavit; the judge interjected, "...and to be honest." Greenspon's cross-examination may frame Ayotte's affidavit as incomplete.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 21, 2023
'He doesn't have anything," Lawrence Greenspon tells the judge about Serge Arpin's absence of any notes. Arpin was former Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson's chief of staff and the current witness for the prosecution. https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 21, 2023
Serge Arpin's absence of notes, Greenspon adds, reinforces a failure of disclosure on the Crown's part, given that such notes would have been provided to the defense ahead of trial. https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 21, 2023
Serge Arpin is "another witness with whom we have zero disclosure," Greenspon states, adding that Arpin is providing "another expanding witness's testimony." Arpin was supposed to testify about the city's negotiations with Tamara Lich during the protest.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 21, 2023
Watch a full recap of day 11 of the trial below:
This page will be updated as proceedings continue.
- By Ezra Levant
Support Tamara's Legal Defense
The Democracy Fund, a Canadian charity, is supporting Tamara Lich by crowdfunding her legal bills. The cost of Tamara's expert legal representation is almost half a million dollars, 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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