A decision in the trial of Pat King, a key figure in what became the Freedom Convoy protest that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in early 2022, will be handed down Friday morning.
King faces multiple charges including mischief, intimidation and counselling others to commit crimes. Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland will now decide whether King’s actions crossed legal boundaries.
If convicted, King could face significant penalties including up to 10 years in prison.
Over three weeks of testimony heard this spring and summer, King argued he was not guilty. The two sides had starkly different views on the role he played during the protests, however.
Central to the case was the question of leadership. While the Crown contends his influence was undeniable, King’s defence argued he was not in control of the convoy.
His lawyer Natasha Calvinho argued police and government “barricaded” protesters in downtown Ottawa, preventing them from leaving the city. She also pointed to moments when King told supporters to remain peaceful and co-operate with authorities.
King is greeted by supporters as he exits the courthouse after being released on bail on Aug. 9. (David Fraser/CBC)
Crown portrayed King as leader
As with other trials of convoy figures, the Crown showed extensive evidence from social media including some posts in which King directed truckers to blare their horns despite a court injunction banning it in Ottawa’s downtown.
Another video showed King organizing a “slow roll” near the Ottawa International Airport, while other clips showed King helping trucks block Wellington Street and telling supporters to sit down if police tried to move in.
Police officers and some protesters who testified said King was considered a leader, but King has downplayed his role, calling himself a promoter.
King’s arrest in February 2022 made headlines when he was taken into custody live on social media. His bail process was also contentious.
King arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa on July 31. (Anne-Charlotte Carignan/CBC)
After being kept in jail over concerns he would re-offend or violate his conditions, King was eventually released in July 2022 under strict terms including bans on using social media and organizing protests.
King’s bail conditions again came into focus in August 2023 when he was briefly jailed for allegedly violating them. He denied the accusations, but was ordered back into custody before being released a week later under tighter restrictions.
The verdict marks a pivotal moment in the legal aftermath of the Freedom Convoy, which drew international attention and led to the unprecedented invocation of the Emergencies Act by the federal government.
A handful of King’s supporters are expected to be at the Ottawa Courthouse when proceedings begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday.