ottawa –
Pat King, one of the most prominent figures in Ottawa’s 2022 “Freedom Convoy,” was found guilty on five charges, including mischief and breaching a court order.
On Friday, in an Ottawa courtroom, a judge ruled that the Crown found beyond a reasonable doubt that Dr. King was guilty of mischief, encouraging others to commit mischief, and encouraging others to obstruct police. He said that he had proved it without any doubt. He was also found guilty of two counts of failing to comply with a court order.
The Alberta resident was acquitted of three counts of intimidation and one count of interfering with police.
King could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set, and the defense must decide whether to appeal.
In January 2022, the convoy brought thousands of demonstrators to Parliament Hill to protest public health restrictions, COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and the federal government. The event clogged downtown streets around Parliament Hill, and area residents complained of exhaust fumes from diesel engines running non-stop, constant noise from constant honking horns and music parties.
The Liberal government eventually tried to end the protests by invoking the state of emergency law, but the protests expanded and several border crossings into the United States were also closed. Ottawa police sent hundreds of officers from forces across Canada to force an end to the protests.
Dr. King’s defense argued that he was peacefully protesting during the three weeks of demonstrations and was not a leader of the demonstrations.
But the king claimed he was a leader of the protests and contributed to the disruption they caused to people living and working in and near the city. King adjusted the horns, ordered demonstrators to honk for 10 minutes every 30 minutes, and when the city asked demonstrators to leave in recognition of the policy, people He claimed that he instructed them to “hold the line.”
Freedom Convoy organizer Pat King is surrounded by supporters and media as he leaves a courtroom in Ottawa on Friday, November 22, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
The Crown’s case relies primarily on Dr. King’s own videos, which he posted on social media throughout the protests to document and communicate with protesters.
After the first verdict on the mischief charge was read, court was adjourned for about 10 minutes as Dr. King requested a short “health break.”
Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland said honking is a “malicious act” aimed at preventing residents, workers, businesses and others from lawfully enjoying downtown Ottawa. Ta.
Hackland also said the video shows King in a leadership role and accepting the role. He pointed to Dr. King’s words that he called it “ridiculous” for aiding and abetting a prank by “gladly” causing residents to lose sleep for 10 days.
This evidence also helped establish Dr. King’s guilt for disobeying court orders and advising others to do the same. These charges are related to an original Feb. 7, 2022 injunction against the use of airplane and train horns brought by residents in downtown Ottawa. The city successfully filed for a similar injunction several days later.
Regarding encouraging others to interfere with police, Hackland said that Dr. King’s call to “hold the line” urges people not to move from a protest site despite police orders. discovered.
The judge said the phrase could be considered a greeting between supporters of the convoy protests, but there was no other logical interpretation in the context of Dr. King’s video.
Days before the multi-day police clearance operation began, Dr. King urged people to tether their weapons and sit with their backs to police if they tried to move them.
Regarding the threat charge, Hackland said a consistent theme of King’s videos was a call to be peaceful and nonviolent. He said the target will always be the federal government and COVID-19 policy, and no specific individuals will be targeted by or through King’s actions.
Regarding the offense of intimidation in relation to the motorway blockade, Mr Hackland said that the offense of intimidation in this case falls under the Criminal Code, as the blockade was carried out as part of a political protest protected by the Charter of Rights. He said the interpretation would be “too broad.” And freedom.
His trial was heard over several weeks from May to July.
This article by The Canadian Press was first published on November 22, 2024.
