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“Madam. Lich’s involvement, in the opinion of this court, continues to pose a risk to the protection and safety of the public.”
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July 8, 2022 • 2 hours ago • Read 4 minutes • 16 comments Tamara Lich was arrested in Medicine Hat, Alta., With a warrant order across Canada on June 27 and after being escorted to Ottawa by the police, she remains in custody ever since. Photo by Errol McGihon / Postmedia
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Tamara Lich remains in prison in Ottawa after a justice of the peace discovered she violated a condition for her release when she exchanged congratulations with a fellow “Freedom Convoy” organizer at an awards gala in Toronto last month.
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Lich, 49, received permission during his last bail review to attend the June 16 gala, where he accepted a “Freedom Award” from the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms and sat down. at the main table with Maxime Bernier and keynote speaker Rex Murphy. Also sitting at the table was Tom Marazzo, one of the many people Lich is forbidden to contact as part of his bail conditions.
Lich was also photographed in a group photo of the “arm-in-arm” event with Marazzo, Justice of the Peace Paul Harris said Friday when he was denied bail and sided with the Crown to find him. the in violation.
Lich’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, had argued that these actions were “so tiny” that they were never intended to cover the conditions of release and “should not be prosecuted.”
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Greenspon also suggested that contact between Lich and Marazzo would have been allowed due to the presence of Lich’s lawyer at the gala.
“Mrs. Lich has chosen to exercise her freedom by not following the court-ordered non-contact condition with Mr. Marazzo,” Harris said, without punching her in handing over her decision to a room full of journalists and supporters of Lich.
“And she does so in a way that flaunts her action with the wrong excuse of having her lawyers present. Even if Ms. Lich can provide evidence of her lawyer’s presence, it’s important to reconfirm the spirit of the non-contact condition “.
Harris said the non-contact order was put in place to ensure there was no communication between the co-accused people, except when he consulted with a lawyer to prepare a defense.
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Although Marazzo’s name is included in the non-communication order, along with Pat King, Tyson Billings and others, Marazzo has not been charged in connection with the demonstration.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous to think that the intent of (the non-contact order) could be replaced simply by the presence of your lawyer,” Harris said, turning to Lich as he sat in the prisoner’s box. “Your arrest is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice. That is my decision. “
Tamara Lich supporters gathered at the Elgin Street courthouse on Friday afternoon.74 Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia
Crown Deputy Attorney Moiz Karimjee presented new evidence during Tuesday’s bail hearing with a series of text messages in which Lich talks about a “strategy to block the city.”
Lich “was clearly involved” as one of the leaders of the “Freedom Convoy,” Harris said in his summary of the Crown’s arguments Friday.
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“The new evidence indicates Ms. Lich’s involvement as a decision-maker regarding putting the nation’s capital in parallel,” Harris said in his decision. “And as such, even though the convoy protest is already over, the‘ freedom ’protests continue here in Ottawa and other Canadian cities.
“Madam. Lich’s involvement, in the opinion of this court, continues to pose a risk to the protection and safety of the public.”
Harris also rejected Lich’s lawyers’ arguments that he should have been allowed to sit next to Marazzo at the gala and be photographed with him because his lawyer was present at the event.
The JCCF has acknowledged that it has funded its legal defense and the organization’s lawyers are representing Lich in related civil proceedings.
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Harris called this a “flawed argument.”
“Madam. Lich chose to sit at his table or at least stay at his table with Mr. Tom Marazzo, in close contact,” Harris said. “Her defense has not provided any evidence to confirm the presence of a lawyer, nor the lawyer’s permission for Mrs. Lich to sit down with Mr. Marazzo and take a photo, arm in arm with Mr. Marazzo.
“Ma’am. Lich was given permission to attend the awards gala (JCCF),” Harris said. “The permission given (by the previous judge) did not provide for Ms Lich to sit at a table with Mr Marazzo, contact Mr Marazzo – however insignificant – and pose for a photo with Mr Marazzo afterwards. .
“These actions will undoubtedly erode the public’s confidence in the administration of justice,” he said.
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Harris said the evidence showed that Lich “is not prepared to follow court orders and is prepared to do whatever he pleases.”
Harris said he became judicially aware of the chaos caused by the “Freedom Convoy” truckers’ protest and referred to the “high gravity” of the crime. Lich is accused of advising on various related crimes, such as assault, intimidation and obstruction of the police.
“It is the Crown’s belief that the objective gravity of the new information (the‘ blocking ’texts) and this breach could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years,” Harris said.
Lich “was a recognized decision-maker,” and the judge said he found his actions “worrying in the face of the events of last February here in the country’s capital …”
“Her communications alone indicate that she may have been a leader of some sort, and it will be up to a trial court to determine the critical role she played in the decision to block the city,” Harris said.
“Like her co-defendant, Ms. Lich will, at some point, have to answer for her involvement and her role.”
ahelmer@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/helmera
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