Judge to Consider Conspiracy Argument in Trial of Freedom Convoy Organizers

An Ontario court judge will consider arguments that Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber acted as co-conspirators as part of their criminal trial, she announced in a decision on Mar 7.

The Crown aims to demonstrate that the two conspired together to organize an illegal protest, suggesting that evidence against one of them should apply to both.

Ms. Lich and Mr. Barber’s legal representatives requested Justice Heather Perkins-McVey to reject the notion outright, contending that there was no proof of their collaboration for an illegal purpose.

The two organizers are facing charges of mischief, intimidation, and various charges related to advising others to break the law in connection with their involvement in the Ottawa demonstration in early 2022.

Justice Perkins-McVey stated on Mar 7 that there is enough circumstantial evidence to warrant hearing the Crown’s argument at the end of the trial.

“I concur with the defense that a strategy to influence the government to change its stance on various mandates may not necessarily be unlawful,” she mentioned in her ruling.

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“The issue, at this stage, is whether there is a reasonable inference that the means to do so are part of an unlawful common design.”

The convoy organizers heard Justice Perkins-McVey’s decision through videoconference on Mar 7.

Ms. Lich and Mr. Barber’s lawyers previously informed the court that arranging a protest is not a criminal act and is safeguarded by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

However, the Crown argues that rights have limitations and that Ms. Lich and Mr. Barber contributed to an “occupation” of downtown Ottawa.

The prolonged demonstration blocked intersections around the parliamentary precinct as protesters established themselves on nearby streets.

Ms. Lich and Mr. Barber’s trial commenced in September and was initially set to conclude on Oct. 13.

The trial has been on hold for most of the year thus far and is expected to extend well into 2024.