Pat King, a central figure in the Freedom Convoy protests that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in early 2022, was found guilty of some charges and acquitted of others for his role.
Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland is still handing down his sentence Friday in Ottawa court.
King was found guilty of mischief and counseling to commit mischief, and not guilty of counseling to commit intimidation and intimidation.
During three weeks of testimony this spring and summer, Dr. King maintained that he was innocent. However, the two sides had very different views on his role during the protests.
At the heart of this incident was an issue of leadership. The Crown argued that King’s influence was undeniable based on extensive evidence from social media, but King’s defense argued that King did not control the convoy.
His lawyer, Natasha Calviño, argued that police and the government “barricaded” protesters in downtown Ottawa to prevent them from leaving the city. She also pointed to a moment when King told his supporters to remain peaceful and cooperate with authorities.
King’s arrest in February 2022 made headlines when it was livestreamed on social media. His bail procedures were also controversial.
King, who had been in prison due to concerns about recidivism and violation of conditions, was finally released in July 2022 under strict conditions, including a ban on using social media and organizing protests.
King’s bail conditions were again in the spotlight in August 2023, when he was briefly jailed for allegedly violating his bail conditions. He denied the charges but was remanded in custody and released a week later with stricter restrictions.
This decision marks a pivotal moment in the legal impact of the Freedom Convoy, which attracted international attention and led to the federal government’s unprecedented invocation of emergency legislation.
