After a two-day bail review this week, Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Leach will find out on Wednesday whether he is returning to prison or not.
Leach, the organizer of the Ottawa protest that stopped the city for weeks, was seeking a change in bail conditions to allow her to return to Ontario and use social media. Royal lawyers have accused her of violating her bail conditions and should be jailed again.
Lich, co-accused with convoy organizer Chris Barber, is charged with mischief, mischief advice, obstruction of police, advising on obstructing police, advising on intimidation and intimidation by blocking and obstructing one or more highways in connection with the protest. .
She was released on bail on March 7.
“I saw no harm” in Freedom Convoy jewelry
During a bail review on Friday, Crown Prosecutor Moiz Karimji showed a post on social media in which Leach wore a medallion given to her. The pendant features a truck with the words “Freedom” and “Canada” on it.
Leach, testifying via video by Alberta, said the pendant was donated to her and disagreed with Karimji that giving permission to publish it online violates bail conditions requiring her to “not orally, in writing, financially or in any other way, they support everything related to the convoy of freedom. “
Leach took the photo at the request of a supporter, who sent a truck pendant with the words “Canada Freedom” on it. (Facebook)
A photo of Leach wearing the necklace was posted on the Freedom Convoy website, which said “parts of the sale will be donated to Truckers Convoy.”
Leach said he did not support anything related to the Freedom Convoy, in part because “there is no support convoy.”
“I do not see how it is a breakthrough. This is a piece of jewelry that was given to me, “Leach said. “I really didn’t see the harm in that.”
She said she took the photo because she was “grateful” that someone had sent her “such a beautiful gift.”
Leach said she assumed that the person who sent the pendant and asked for the photo would publish it on a personal page.
The guarantor, tasked with ensuring that Leach complies with his release on bail, whose identity is protected by a ban on publishing, said they did not know the publication or photo existed.
Social media ban “comparable to exile”
Lich is striving to be able to return to social media. Currently, it can send messages and call people, but has limited access to social media platforms.
She said she would like to connect with family and friends who post and send her messages on social media.
“We now live in the world of social media, I think being completely banned by social media is comparable to exile ever,” Leach told the court. “I personally don’t see why I can’t use my own social media and get on it even if I stay connected, that’s what it’s really like to stay connected.”
During an interrogation by attorney Lawrence Greenspon on Thursday, Leach testified that he also wanted the terms of the bail to be changed to allow her to visit Ottawa. The reasons are subject to a ban on publication in court and cannot be disclosed.
She also testified that she “would like to” attend an event in Toronto in June to receive the Freedom Award, “but I will not violate my release to do so.”
Leach received an award from the Center for Justice for Constitutional Freedoms for his work in organizing the Freedom Convoy protest, which occupied some streets in central Ottawa weeks earlier this year. (jccf.ca)
Leading convoy award
On March 28, a charity called the Center for Justice for Constitutional Freedoms sent an email to Leach to inform it that it had been selected for the 2022 George Jonas Freedom Prize, she told the court.
The e-mail she read aloud said the honor was given “in recognition of your leadership role in the Freedom Convoy.”
The award announcement on the centre’s website said Leach “took the initiative to help organize a peaceful protest and serve as one of its leaders.” The peaceful protest in Ottawa has aroused many Canadians about the injustice of blocking in violation of the Charter and mandatory vaccination policies.
The day after receiving the email, Leach sent an email back saying it was “an honor” to accept. She did not ask if it would be okay, she testified during a cross-examination by Karimji.
Asked if she supported anything related to the convoy by accepting the award, Leach said: “I guess so. I suppose so.
“I do not think this is a violation. “I don’t think that’s the recognition … I feel that the recognition is to inspire Canadians to hold the government accountable for the rule of law and to defend their rights under the Charter,” she continued.
“I guess it’s because of what happened,” she added.
Leach appears before a judge for her bail hearing on February 19, 2022 (Lauren Foster-McLeod / CBC)
Lich was arrested in February
Leach was arrested on February 17 and was initially charged with advising him to commit mischief shortly before a major police operation freed protesters and vehicles from the streets of Ottawa.
She was initially denied bail by Ontario Judge Julie Bourgeois, who told the court she found Leach protected and “almost obstructive” at times, and who was not convinced Leach would go home, stay home and stop his alleged advice. .
Leach and her then-lawyer Diane Magas appealed Bourgeois’ decision, which led to her first review of bail in a higher court in early March.
Supreme Court Justice John Johnston ruled in favor of Leach after the one-day trial, saying she was a “valuable employee” in Alberta and lived a crime-free life, and that the risk in Ottawa was kept to a minimum after police cleared. streets.
Leach was released after spending about 18 days in custody at the Ottawa-Carlton Detention Center. Other terms of guarantee include her leaving Ottawa within 24 hours, refraining from using social media and not having contact with certain co-organizers.
Her bail – which cannot be identified due to a court-imposed ban on publication – posted a $ 20,000 bail, while Leach herself posted an additional $ 5,000 in cash.
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