Defence lawyer questions if ’disorganized’ Coutts border protest had anyone in charge

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LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — The trial of a trio accused of masterminding the COVID-era border blockade at Coutts, Alta., noticed the defence pursue a opposite narrative Thursday of a mishmash protest the place nobody had the ability to name the photographs.

“You couldn’t inform us who really was accountable for the (blockading) vehicles coming down on the 29 (of January),” defence lawyer Michael Johnston put to former Coutts mayor Jim Willett throughout cross-examination.

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“I couldn’t,” Willett replied.

“It looks like a moderately disorganized protest, nonetheless, on Feb. 2. Is that truthful?” mentioned Johnston.

“In all probability, yeah,” Willett mentioned.

Johnston is the lawyer for Alex Van Herk.

Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos and Gerhard Janzen are on trial earlier than a jury after pleading not responsible to mischief over $5,000.

Crown prosecutors have instructed jurors they intend to show that the trio spearheaded the protest that tied up cross-border visitors between Alberta and Montana for 2 weeks in early 2022 in a protest of COVID-era guidelines and restrictions.

The Crown mentioned that after 15 days, a video message the lads posted on-line asking protesters to go residence completed what Mounties couldn’t.

The Crown confused the case will not be about COVID-19 or free speech however merely that individuals can not resolve on their very own to close down a serious transportation portal.

Willett has testified that when the blockade started forming, he was involved in regards to the well-being of the 200 individuals in his village and the possibility they may very well be reduce off from medical assist and groceries.

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Willett recognized Van Herk as one of many protest leaders however was challenged on that time by Johnston.

Willett was requested about assembly with Van Herk and his impressions of how issues had been going.

“You had been making an attempt to determine who you would possibly have the ability to speak to? Who was the large cheese?” mentioned Johnston, including, “(Van Herk) regarded like one of the vital haggard individuals you’d ever seen. Is that truthful?”

“He regarded pretty pissed off,” mentioned Willett.

Johnston requested if it was Willett’s impression that Van Herk was making an attempt to direct some “order within the chaos” and get protesters to go away.

“That’s what he implied,” mentioned Willett.

Johnston performed video from the protesters’ gathering spot, Smuggler’s Saloon, the place Van Herk is seen asking for a vote to attempt to get everybody to go away however is met with vocal opposition.

“Who’s in favour that all of us begin our vehicles and we go away as one group to allow them to by no means pin it on no person. We go away altogether and we drive away,” Van Herk tells the raucous crowd.

“We’re doing an unlawful blockade. (Police) don’t want to barter.”

A number of males on the video argue again.

“I don’t care, let ’em come,” says one man.

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“The one means I’m leaving is in a (police) cruiser,” says one other.

Johnston requested Willett if there was anybody group that was in cost on the protest.

“It was a bunch of individuals I didn’t know, driving a bunch of automobiles, who was upset. That was the impression I obtained,” Willett replied.

“So,” mentioned Johnston, “Feels like there’s a bunch of various teams which might be at this protest … not only one sort of cohesive group.”

“That was the impression that I obtained,” mentioned Willett.

The trial is scheduled to run till April 19.

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