‘Freedom Convoy’ organizer Tamara Lich back in court for allegedly breaching bail conditions

One of the main organizers of the ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest earlier this year appeared in court via video for a bail hearing Tuesday, after being arrested last week for allegedly breaching her bail conditions.

Tamara Lich was arrested in Medicine Hat, Alta., where she lives, on a Canada-wide arrest warrant sought by the Ottawa police. Police transported her to the capital, where she appeared before a judge on Thursday before being ordered to remain in custody over the long weekend.

Lich was originally arrested in mid-February and was released in March with a long list of conditions, including staying off social media and not to associate with many of the other organizers unless in the presence of her lawyer.

A video shown in court Tuesday allegedly shows Lich giving a speech after getting an award at the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms awards ceremony in June and then sitting at the main table alongside fellow organizer Tom Marazzo.

The two minutes of the video shows the end of Lich’s speech at a freedom award ceremony and then she goes to sit at the head table.
Detective Benson says others at the table he identified were Lich’s husband, @MaximeBernier, Tom Marazzo, and Rex Murphy #cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) July 5, 2022

There was also a photo shown in court of Lich standing next to Marazzo, which was posted to Facebook.

Also looking at a photo posted to Facebook on June 17. Detective Benson says it shows Tamara Lich standing next to Tom Marazzo. Crown asks Benson why he thinks this is a breach of bail conditions and Benson says because of order for Lich not to communicate with Marazzo #cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) July 5, 2022

Both the lead detective and the Crown noted that they don’t see Lich’s lawyers in either scenario but the defence has tried to show there were lawyers with Lich present at the event.

The Crown is seeking to cancel her previous release order but the defence is seeking her release with conditions.

Lich was a key figurehead of the massive protest that overtook Ottawa’s downtown streets for more than three weeks in February.

She and fellow protest organizer Chris Barber are jointly accused of mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation.

With files from The Canadian Press