The trial for Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos, and George Janzen continues today in Lethbridge Alberta. The three men are each being charged with mischief over $5000 and facing up to 10 years in prison for allegedly being leaders of the 2022 Coutts border blockade. 

Yesterday's proceedings focused on the testimony of RCMP officer Greg Tulloch, who acknowledged that varying factions composed the Coutts protest. The prosecution is alleging that the three men exerted influence and control over the other protesters at Coutts.

The Coutts border blockade was an 18-day peaceful demonstration against government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions held at the border of Coutts, Alberta and Sweet Grass, Montana in early 2022.

The anti-mandate demonstration halted millions of dollars in trade and contributed to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in Alberta, proving to be one of the most impactful protests Canada has seen in decades. The demonstration occurred concurrently with the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.

Rebel News reporter Robert Kraychik is on the ground at the Lethbridge courthouse, providing independent reporting on the trial of the Coutts Three.

Follow along below for live updates from the trial:

Crown has ended its arguments, and all defence teams opted against introducing further evidence or inviting witnesses. https://t.co/bfQHcSUiBR https://t.co/mIhJKvGq4E

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) April 12, 2024

All the defence teams have announced they will not invite witnesses or enter further evidence. The jury's now been excused. We saw a similar decision in the Chris Barber and Tamara Lich trial, with defense teams opting against inviting witnesses. https://t.co/LNZIIEjGra

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) April 12, 2024

If you're surrounded by false framing of peaceful protesters at Freedom Convoy/Coutts blockade as "extremists, racists, misogynists, etc", (exact language used by Justin Trudeau and forwarded by the CBC), you will fear them as this female RCMP officer did. https://t.co/0PI4WbkZja

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) April 12, 2024

RCMP officer Greg Tulloch testified that he considered the possibility that excavators moved to the Coutts protest would be used "to dig up the road", which reflects his lack of understanding of the peaceful protesters. https://t.co/LNZIIEjGra

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) April 12, 2024

Coutts Three trial resumes; Crown's questioning of RCMP Superintendent Gordon Corbett - who was at the Coutts protest in a sort kf managerial capacity for law enforcement - will continue, and if completed, cross-examination by defense lawyers will begin. https://t.co/LNZIIEjGra

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) April 12, 2024