The drawn-out trial of Tamara Lich and co-accused Chris Barber is in its final day before a verdict is reached.

This morning, Lich and Barber are making final appearances (virtually) before the court, where they face mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation charges issued for their roles in the peaceful anti-mandate Freedom Convoy protest that took place in Ottawa during early 2022.

Rebel News CEO Ezra Levant is in Ottawa today to cover the proceedings and is providing updates on the trial as it unfolds. Follow along directly on X or on this page below:

Today's hearing is expected to take a couple of hours (which will likely mean three or four). Tamara Lich and her co-accused are joining via Zoom today; everyone else is in the courtroom.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

The prosecution is rebutting the closing remarks of Tamara's lawyers. When I was last here, Lawrence Greenspon quoted Benjamin Franklin in an inspiring reference to liberty.

The prosecutors said Ben Franklin was allegedly a big booster of vaccines, after first being a skeptic.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Just a reminder, the prosecutors are Tim Radcliffe and Siobhan Wetschler. (Wetschler is the one haggling over Ben Franklin.)

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Wetscher is showing the judge a text message exchange between Chris Barber, Tamara's co-accused, and the police. Barber and other leaders of the trucker convoy had continuous collaboration in terms of managing the truckers. This is an essential part of their defence.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

The judge just interrupted and scolded Wetscher for "cherry-picking" a snippet from a larger text message exchange.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Wetscher: the Federal Court's ruling deeming the Emergencies Act illegal and unconstitutional doesn't "condone" the truckers and their conduct.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Wetscher: the Federal Court ruling is "the elephant in the room".
Judge: it was a different issue, but there are some instructive paragraphs I will read.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

So there's no evidence either way, because the police had nothing on Tamara, and she didn't testify.

So why was she prosecuted?

Not a single witness in this monstrous trial had dealings with Tamara, or gave evidence about her. So why are we here? Other than a show trial?

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

So we're about to reconvene. Tamara and her co-accused Chris are on a video link. The lawyers are back in their places, as is the public gallery.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Greenspon waved him off, as did Diane Magas, the lawyer for Chris Barber. I'm pretty sure that's what I just saw.

I predict the judge will go absolutely nuclear on the prosecution if they try to introduce 30 more pages now, in the final moments of this trial.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Like I say, Tamara Lich most likely will be acquitted -- I think that's the consensus even amongst the mainstream media here.

So the prosecutors are trying to turn the trial itself into a punishment.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Prosecutor Radcliffe has given the written document to the judge. It appears to be a written guide to the verbal comments he's about to make.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Radcliffe says Chris Barber was talking about "slow rolls" of trucks and says that's the definition of criminal mischief.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Mercifully, Radcliffe says the rest of his submissions will be written. The judge says she wants them in electronic form, too.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

The judge indicates the method she wants any more files sent to her.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

As in, she's hearing other trials all the time, but she wants a few days off of running other trials, just to crunch this one.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Sounds like Nov. 26th will be the "check-in day" where the judge will give the lawyers a finer estimate of when she'll deliver the judgment. Obviously we'll be there when the judgment is announced.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

And we're done.

— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) September 13, 2024

Well, that’s a wrap to the Longest Mischief Trial of All Time. Check in date Nov 26 to hopefully set a date for the verdict.

The crown really disappointed me today. His remarks about the Event That Shall Not Be Named being nothing more than a weekend party are indicative of…

— Tamara Lich (@LichTamara) September 13, 2024