Court cases for Coutts border protesters delayed for third time | The Canadian News

The trials of three men accused of conspiracy to commit murder at the Coutts border protest in Alberta have been delayed until the end of May.

Fourteen people were arrested on weapons and mischief charges after an early morning raid in February where the RCMP found a cache of long guns, pistols, bulletproof vests, large amounts of ammunition and high-capacity magazines in three trailers.

Four men were also charged with conspiracy to murder: Christopher Lysak, Chris Carbert, Jerry Mitchell Morin and Anthony Olienick.

Carbert, Morin and Olienick appeared in court by video at the Lethbridge Correctional Center on Monday.

An attorney for Carbert told a Lethbridge judge that his bond hearing is scheduled for May 19. Carbert is expected to plead not guilty and will seek a preliminary investigation of his case. Carbert will appear in provincial court on May 20.

Morin has a bond hearing set for June 24. Her case was adjourned until May 16.

A lawyer representing Olienick said they are waiting at Queen’s Bench Court to set a bail hearing date. She is expected to return to court on May 3.

Lysak previously waived his right to a preliminary hearing and chose to be tried by jury. Crown counsel opposed the request to set a Monday trial date, wanting all four men to be tried at the same time.

A Queen’s Court judge granted a stay until May 9.

Nine other individuals facing weapons and mischief charges also had their cases delayed until May 16 because their attorneys are awaiting further information from the RCMP. These individuals are Ursula Allred, Johnson Chichow Law, Justin Martin, Eastin Stewart Oler, Joanne Person, Janx Zaremba, Luke Berk, Jaclyne Martin, and Evan Colenutt.

James Edward Sowery, the 14th person arrested in connection with the Coutts border protest, also had his case delayed. He is charged with one count of assault with a weapon and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. His next court appearance will be on May 3.

Five national media outlets (CBC, Postmedia, CTV News, Global News and The Globe and Mail) will appear in court on May 2 for their attempt to obtain information related to the search warrants issued against Carbert, Lysak, Olienick and Morin. .

–With files from Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press.