Convoy protest leader Pat King denied bail

One of the public faces of the convoy protest that took over downtown Ottawa for weeks has been denied bail.

Pat King was arrested last week. The Alberta man was taken into custody on four charges: mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order, and counselling to obstruct police.

On Friday, Justice of the Peace Andrew Seymour said he’s not satisfied that King, if released, wouldn’t commit offences similar to those he’s accused of. Seymour also says he isn’t confident in King’s proposed surety, who is an Alberta woman who has only known King for four weeks. That person also took part in the protests.

BREAKING: Convoy organizer Pat King has been denied bail. The Justice said he believes there is a high risk of King to reoffend, the allegations are serious and there is a likelihood of endangering public safety. He will be kept in custody as he awaits trial #cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 25, 2022

The Crown has said that, in 2016, King was charged with uttering threats and ordered to hand over his firearms. Prosecutors went on to say that while he did as he was asked, days later, the 44-year-old proceeded to buy a restricted firearm.

As Seymour delivered the ruling this afternoon, King sat in-person in the courtroom at the Ottawa courthouse, wearing a camouflage jacket over a grey hoodie and matching sweat pants. He shifted between hunching forward and leaning up against the wall behind him.

Defence argues a Calgary criminal record should not have come as a surprise to the Crown since Pat King travelled from Calgary. Defence cites previous legal case in saying this is not an unexpected circumstance that should allow the Crown to reopen case. #cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 25, 2022

The Crown said that, in 2016, King was charged with uttering threats and ordered to hand over his firearms. Prosecutors went on to say that while he did as he was asked, days later, the 44-year-old proceeded to buy a restricted firearm.

Last year, King’s firearms licence was revoked. The Crown claimed that he’s been in possession of a firearm regardless.

However, the defence argued that prosecutors had ample opportunity and resources to prepare their case, which has already been presented.

King’s lawyers said allowing the Crown to reopen the bail hearing would open the floodgates and set a precedent for such a move any time the prosecution thinks of new arguments.

Related stories:

• Bail denied for Ottawa protest leader Tamara Lich, decision expected for Pat King on Friday

• What you need to know about mischief charges and the Ottawa protests

The defence went on to say that the evidence provided by the Crown was low, despite prosecutors arguing it was serious.

On Tuesday, the Crown presented evidence of social media videos posted by the man where he allegedly makes racist comments and how this would all end in bullets.

Tamara Lich, who was one of the protest organizers, was arrested a day before King. They both spent the weekend in jail ahead of their bail hearings.

Lich was denied bail by an Ontario court judge this week, with the justice saying in her ruling that she believes Lich would re-offend if she was released. The justice went on to say that Lich’s continued detention is necessary for public safety.

The 49-year-old is charged with counselling to commit mischief. She is due back in court March 2.