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Patrick King, one of the leaders of the “Freedom Convoy” protest in downtown Ottawa last winter, has been released from jail while awaiting trial.
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Superior Court Judge Anne London-Weinstein granted King bail Monday morning under conditions that include that he return to Alberta as soon as possible.
King appeared in person at an Ottawa court on Monday.
Supporters wearing “Free Pat King” T-shirts raised bandanas to their eyes as the judge issued her decision.
King was arrested on February 18 and has been in custody ever since.
He faces charges related to his participation in the three-week protest that packed downtown Ottawa with trucks, vehicles and protesters. The federal government invoked the Emergency Law and police from multiple forces mobilized to clear the streets.
The charges against King include mischief, intimidation, disobeying a court order, counseling to commit mischief, counseling to commit intimidation, counseling to obstruct police, resisting and obstructing a peace officer, and interfering with lawful use of property. the city of Ottawa.
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King also faces perjury charges filed after a bond hearing in April.
Judge London-Weinstein set a series of conditions for his release.
King must return to Alberta to live on a court-approved bond within 24 hours, depending on flight availability. He will be employed by another bail bond. King will be under curfew from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m.
King may not use social media or allow others to post on his behalf. King’s attorney agreed in court that he would make sure his website, Facebook and other accounts are deactivated.
King cannot participate in any illegal protest or gathering related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the “freedom convoy” or anti-government demonstrations, the court ruled.
King was prohibited from possessing weapons or ammunition.
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He is not allowed to contact a list of convoy supporters and organizers, including Tamara Lich, Christopher Barber, Daniel Bulford, Benjamin Dichter, James Bauder, Tyson Billings and Tom Marazzo, Owen Swiderski and Brian Carr.
Lich, from Alberta, crowdfunded the convoy protest and helped organize it. He faces charges of mischief, obstructing police, counseling others to commit mischief and intimidation. Lich is currently in jail after a judge ruled earlier this month that he violated his bail conditions.
Barber, a trucker from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, who helped organize the convoy, is also facing charges and was released on bail.
Billings, a King associate from High Prairie, Alberta, known as “Freedom George” during the convoy protest, pleaded guilty last month to one count of counseling mischief and was sentenced to six months probation.
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Bauder, from Calgary, is the founder of a group called Canada Unity that promoted the convoy. He was charged and released pending resolution of his case with conditions that included not going near the Parliament Hill area.
Dichter, who helped promote and raise money for the convoy, is a former Conservative Party electoral candidate who spoke at the founding meeting of the People’s Party of Canada. Bulford is a former RCMP officer who is an activist against COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Marazzo is a key member of Veterans4Freedom, an anti-mandate group, and ran in the recent provincial election for the Ontario Party. Dichter, Bulford and Marazzo spoke on behalf of the convoy protest last winter at news conferences.
Swiderski is associated with a social networking site that promoted the convoy protest.
The reasons for the decision and London-Weinstein’s testimony during Monday’s bail hearing and review are under a publication ban requested by King. That is common in bond hearings and is done to protect against future jurors hearing evidence that could be part of the trial.
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