‘Convoy Commemorates Anniversary as ‘Coutts Four’ Remain in Jail Without Bail’
A convoy of cars and trucks traveled to Coutts, Alberta, to show support for four Canadians who have been in jail for over 700 days in connection with the 2022 border blockade in that community.
The men, Mr. Carbert, Christopher Lysak, Jerry Morin, and Anthony Olienick, were all arrested during the Freedom Convoy protests in February 2022. The protests, which were against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and pandemic-related restrictions, involved a truckers convoy that headed from Western Canada to Ottawa.
The RCMP said they found firearms, ammunition, and body armour in three trailers located near Coutts.
Pre-trial Delay
Pre-trial court proceedings for the four accused were pushed back to Feb. 5, 2024, after one of the men parted ways from his lawyer in December 2023.
A trial had previously been scheduled for June 2023, but the proceedings were delayed until Dec. 11, with the lawyers hoping the trial could be moved to a different venue.
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“Given that the media outlets, the big ones in Canada are organs of the state, literally, we don’t really know anything about what these four men have been accused of doing. Don’t you think it would send a powerful message to go visit them in jail and find out what they’ve been accused of?” he asked.
Ms. Smith responded by referring to an incident where she and preacher Artur Pawlowski, who was charged in connection with COVID-19 restrictions, were talking on the phone and she agreed to inquire about his case and report back to him.
“What I have learned is that … the Crown operates independently, prosecutors have to make sure that they have a reasonable likelihood of conviction, and I guess they will have to assess whether or not that is the case,” she said.
The report concluded that there was no evidence that Ms. Smith or her staff tried to influence prosecutors.
“I truly wish I could do more, but I’ve had my wings clipped in the last year,” Ms. Smith told Mr. Carlson.
