㽶Ƶֱ

Skip to content

Closing arguments begin in 㽶ƵֱFreedom Convoy㽶Ƶֱ organizer Pat King㽶Ƶֱs trial

Deence argues king was not a leader of the 3-week demonstration that gridlocked downtown Ottawa
web1_20240726130756-a0b17aeee27621d4c044ffefb178149ec853a5ac1337d87cc42204509df22be1
Pat King arrives for his trial at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Closing arguments began today in the trial of Freedom Convoy organizer King. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

The defence lawyer for a prominent organizer of the 2022 㽶ƵֱFreedom Convoy㽶Ƶֱ in Ottawa says he is not responsible for the mischief that ensued during the protest.

Defence Lawyer Natasha Calvinho began her closing arguments today by asking the court to dismiss the charges against King, and blamed police, city officials and other protesters for allowing tensions to escalate during the protest.

Calvinho argues King was a peaceful protester and was not a leader of the three-week demonstration that gridlocked downtown Ottawa.

King has pleaded not guilty to charges of mischief, counselling others to commit mischief, obstructing police and other offences.

The convoy attracted thousands of demonstrators to Parliament Hill in protest against public-health restrictions, COVID-19 vaccine mandates and the federal government.

The Crown is relying mainly on King㽶Ƶֱs own videos, which he posted to social media throughout the protest to document the demonstration and communicate with protesters.

Justice Charles Hackland interrupted Calvinho several times throughout her closing arguments to ask how particular elements of the defence evidence was relevant to King and the charges he was facing.

Calvinho often responded that it provides context, which she says the Crown㽶Ƶֱs case lacks.

When King㽶Ƶֱs trial began in May, the Crown argued that King was an outspoken leader in the protest who wielded influence over the crowds as they blocked streets and blared air horns through all hours of the night and day.

The Crown is expected to present its closing arguments later this afternoon.





(or

㽶Ƶֱ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }