Protracted trial of Freedom Convoy leaders nears end

The trial of the founders of the Freedom Convoy in Canada was supposed to last only 16 days, but due to legal disputes and unprepared witnesses, among other things, the trial has been delayed. It is now coming to an end and is expected to be over in a few days.

The trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, the leaders of the Canadian Freedom Convoy, began last September. They are charged with crimes including vandalism, obstructing police, inciting vandalism and uttering threats in connection with the protests.

The trial was expected to last 16 days, but has been delayed due to a number of factors, including legal complications, technical delays, unavailability of witnesses, and problems with the handling of police evidence. Prosecutors have used video footage of the demonstrations to argue that Lich and Barber had control over the participants and encouraged them to stay in Ottawa. The defense, on the other hand, argues that the demonstrators were directed by the police, with instructions on where to move around the city.

The prosecution’s case wrapped up before Christmas, and it is now time for the defense to present its side, Canada’s CBC reports.

Banned from social media

The trial only resumed for one day on January 4 due to a lack of available court dates. However, the defense has said it needs a total of five more days, which means the trial is now coming to an end. So far, neither Barber nor Lich have testified, and there is no indication that they will.

Lich was banned from using social media as part of his bail conditions, but in December he was allowed to reactivate his account on X, formerly Twitter, after a 22-month hiatus.

– I have been hoping for quite some time to have my conditions varied and with the lack of evidence we have seen so far (and) the unexpected length of time the trial is taking, we felt it was a good time to have this specific condition reviewed, Lich said in a statement to True North in connection with the reactivation.

Once the trial is over, the judge will have up to six months to issue a verdict. A conviction for vandalism carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.