The Democracy Fund, a Canadian charity, has announced its support for Tamara Lich by launching a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for her legal defense. Tamara, a regular mom and grandma from Medicine Hat, Alberta, is facing high legal costs that she cannot afford. However, she has a secret weapon on her side – Lawrence Greenspon, one of Ottawa’s top lawyers. While his legal representation comes with a hefty price tag of $300,000, his expertise and experience make him worth every penny.
The ongoing trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber entered its fifth day, which was primarily focused on a dispute between the prosecution and defense over the admissibility of nine witnesses. The Crown intends to present these witnesses as evidence on Monday in Ottawa, Ontario, to testify about the negative impacts they claim to have suffered due to the Freedom Convoy in 2022. These witnesses include Ottawa residents, business owners, and an OC Transpo employee. They will speak about various issues, such as public urination, littering, exhaust fumes, and the alleged impact on their property and access.
During the trial, Justice Heather Perkins-McVey, the presiding judge, questioned the prosecution’s expectations regarding their witnesses. She sought clarification on whether the alleged incidents of urination and littering were directly connected to the defendants, whether the exhaust fumes could be attributed to the Freedom Convoy, law enforcement, or other motorists, and the validity of the alleged obstructions to the witnesses’ properties.
Justice Perkins-McVey emphasized the need for the Crown to convince her of the relevance of its evidence in order for it to be admitted. Lawrence Greenspon, Tamara’s lawyer, argued that any evidence, including witness testimony, must be relevant to the charges against the defendant to be admissible in court. He argued that the prosecution’s intended witnesses would not provide any new information beyond what the defense has already admitted regarding the negative impacts experienced by some Ottawa residents during the Freedom Convoy demonstration. Greenspon emphasized that evidence must add relevant information to the matter at hand; otherwise, it is considered irrelevant and should be excluded.
The judge also noted that the evidence and testimony presented by the prosecution contradicted their characterization of the protests as violent. She referred to a video montage shown by the prosecution, which only showed one instance of violence involving an officer punching a demonstrator. She also highlighted a police officer’s testimony stating that no violence was directed at the police officers by the Freedom Convoy demonstrators.
Justice Perkins-McVey emphasized her role as a “gatekeeper” in overseeing the trial, stating that she would carefully consider the admissibility of witnesses’ testimonies. She expressed her dissatisfaction with the prosecution’s attempt to refine their evidentiary submissions at a late stage, as these details should have been sorted out earlier.
The day concluded with the prosecution presenting a video of a press conference led by Tom Marazzo, a Freedom Convoy volunteer, held during the February 2022 demonstration. In the press conference, Marazzo repeatedly emphasized the peaceful nature of the protest while criticizing law enforcement’s response as a misguided show of force. He stated that the protest aimed to restore Canadians’ freedoms and highlighted that various levels of government refused to engage in negotiations with Freedom Convoy representatives.
In conclusion, the trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber continues to be a complex legal battle. The dispute over the admissibility of witnesses’ testimonies and the judge’s emphasis on relevance highlight the importance of presenting compelling evidence in court. With the support of the Democracy Fund and the expertise of Lawrence Greenspon, Tamara hopes to successfully defend herself against the charges she faces.
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