The trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber continues on day 13 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.
Follow along below:
Proceedings end for now; trial will resume on October 13. The judge has yet to determine admissibility of the Crown’s intended next witnesses, who are city residents expected to testify to harms they claim to have suffered due to the Freedom Convoy.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 22, 2023
Remember: Former Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson (a childless man who said kids playing in bouncy castles were “disturbing”) threatened to arrest people providing fuel and/or food to Freedom Convoy trucker protesters, which amounted to a humanitarian threat. https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 22, 2023
The City of Ottawa was “attempting to freeze out the truckers and their families,” Lawrence Greenspon, Tamara Lich’s lawyer, says in relation to the city council’s lowering of the maximum outdoor temperature (from 5°C to -15°C) within which idling of vehicles would be permitted.
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 22, 2023
Serge Arpin essentially agrees with Lawrence Greenspon’s assessment, and states that the City of Ottawa wanted to bring an end to the Freedom Convoy demonstration.
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 22, 2023
Serge Arpin testified that the City of Ottawa changed a by-law regarding exceptions for permissible idling of vehicles. Before the Freedom Convoy, idling was permitted at 5 degrees or lower. The outdoor temperature limit was then lowered to -15 degrees.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 22, 2023
Serge Arpin said he apologized to Keith Wilson, a lawyer acting as a sort of liaison for negotiations b/w Ottawa city officials and Freedom Convoy organizers, for what he saw as a violation of good faith from the City of Ottawa for ceasing negotiations.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 22, 2023
Tamara Lich/Chris Barber trial Day 13; Serge Arpin (former chief of staff to Ottawa’s former mayor) asks to revise testimony he made on Thursday; defense opposes the request; judge agrees w/defense and maintains the matter was “thoroughly” reviewed.https://t.co/TWDiMnjMOA
— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) September 22, 2023
Watch a full recap of day 12 of the trial below:
This page will be updated as proceedings continue.
https://www.rebelnews.com/live_updates_freedom_convoy_organizer_tamara_lich_s_trial_enters_day_13