‘Freedom Convoy’ organizer Pat King granted bail with conditions
Posted July 18, 2022 10:31 am.
Last Updated July 18, 2022 11:26 pm.
Pat King, an organizer of the “Freedom Convoy” protests that occupied downtown Ottawa for three weeks earlier this year, has been released on bail.
The decision was delivered in an Ottawa courtroom on Monday morning.
King has spent 150 days in custody and was seen shedding tears in the prisoner’s box as the bail hearing was read.
King is shedding tears in the prisoner’s box as the bail decision is being read.
As he awaits pre-trial hearings, King will return to Alberta and have to abide by a long list of conditions #cdnpoli— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) July 18, 2022
Once released, will have to return to Alberta under a long list of conditions until his judicial pre-trial is scheduled. The judge said King will also need to live under a curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and he is not allowed to have any involvement in ‘Freedom Convoy’ activity.
He was initially arrested in February and faces 16 charges related to his involvement in the February Ottawa protests against pandemic restrictions. The details of the testimony that led to the allegations are protected by a publication ban.
His bail review in April came to an abrupt end when his lawyer’s computer was apparently hacked. The following day, the Crown announced King would face perjury and obstruction of justice charges, in addition to previous charges of mischief, intimidation, obstructing police and disobeying a court order.
Fellow “Freedom Convoy” organizer Tamara Lich was denied bail earlier this month after the Crown accused her of breaching one of her existing conditions.
Lich was arrested in February for her role in the protest, but she was eventually released with a long list of conditions, including not to communicate with key convoy organizers except through a lawyer or in the presence of a lawyer. She was arrested again after appearing in a photo with a fellow convoy organizer.
With files from The Canadian Press
