Tamara Lich, a key figure in what became the “Freedom Convoy,” is appealing her mischief conviction for her role in the 2022 Ottawa protest.
In April, Lich was found guilty of mischief. Co-defendant Chris Barber was found guilty of mischief and advising others to disobey a court order.
Both were found not guilty of several other charges, but the court considered They crossed the line from political protest to criminal activity.
Each one was handed down suspended sentences last month and was saved from further prison sentences.
After a long 42-day trial that ended three years after the couple was charged, an appeal was almost inevitable, as Lich had signaled that a guilty verdict would not be accepted before the trial even began.
In papers filed with the Ontario Court of Appeal, Lich’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, maintains the guilty plea was unreasonable and unsupported by evidence.
Greenspon also argues that the judge mistakenly used evidence exclusively admissible against Barber for his findings about Lich. Greenspon further maintains that Lich promoted peace during the protest and that his conduct was protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Lich is seeking to have the appeals court vacate her conviction and acquit her, or vacate the guilty plea and order a new trial.
Barber’s sentence was continued after his sentence was handed down because Crown prosecutors are also seeking to seize the truck he used to travel to Ottawa during the 2022 protests.
Because arguments over the seizure of the truck were delayed, Barber has more time to file an appeal.
