Closing arguments wrap up at Pat King convoy protest trial
King has pleaded not guilty to charges for his role in the 2022 demonstrations
Closing arguments have wrapped up in the criminal trial for one of the leaders of what became known as the Freedom Convoy, and a decision is now expected in October.
Pat King has pleaded not guilty to charges of mischief, intimidation, counselling and other charges for his role in the 2022 protests, which led to large swaths of the city's core being gridlocked by trucks and other vehicles for nearly three weeks.
Throughout his trial in Ottawa, the Crown used evidence from social media, police and residents to show King played a key role in bringing protesters to the city and then encouraged them to stay after authorities ordered them to leave in February 2022.
Prosecutors say the Freedom Convoy as a whole was a "group mischief" and argue King played an active role in it, significantly impacting citizens' lawful use and enjoyment of property.
"This case is about Mr. King's conduct and how he chose to express his views — which he's entitled to have — about the COVID-19 mandates, and how that manner of expression consisted of intimidation and mischief," said Crown prosecutor Emma Loignon-Giroux during closing submissions.
King's defence counsel, Natasha Calvinho, has argued the Crown's case lacked context, that the trial was not about the protests themselves and that King can't be held liable for the actions of others.
She pointed to instances where King followed police directions and encouraged viewers of his popular social media feed to stay peaceful, while minimizing the overall role he had in the protests.
Calvinho said the protests were a "failure" of all levels of government and suggested any guilt on King's part would only be the result of him getting "erroneous advice" from officials, whom she accused of "barricading" protesters in the city and preventing them from leaving.
Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland will now weigh the nuances of the overall circumstances in Ottawa during the protests against King's own actions to decide whether the law was broken.
Role of King's leadership a central question
Central questions at the trial included what role King played during the three-week protests to what extent he could be considered a "leader."
The court never saw evidence of King honking a horn himself or driving a truck. Prosecutors said they didn't need that, because King's other behaviour showed he was actively taking part in mischief and other crimes.
On his social media, King posted videos that prosecutors used as evidence. They showed him directing supporters to honk horns after a court injunction banned the act, leading a "slow roll" of trucks by the Ottawa International Airport and talking about sneaking trucks downtown.
Other videos, including some made after the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act, showed King helping trucks block Wellington Street near Parliament Hill and encouraging supporters to "sit on the ground" if police begin enforcement.
Officers who testified said efforts to contact King were made because he was considered a "leader" or "person of influence."
One protester from western Canada told court how King was the "guide" for truckers coming from Alberta and was "there to make sure everybody was safe."
Another said he felt rebellion was his "duty" and King was a "prominent figure" in that rebellion.
King was also listed as a contact on the website of one of the main groups organizing the protests.
King points to others, blames authorities
Other protest participants said they had no idea who King was until they got to the city or until the protest was over.
Calvinho also pointed to other people, some who were never charged, who played key roles. She suggested King was targeted only because he was a "valuable personality" as he had some 354,000 online followers at the time of the protests.
She questioned the role authorities played when it came to mitigating the risk of having so many people and vehicles in the downtown core.
"Knowing that, and the volume of persons, [authorities] not only invited them, they told them where to park, where to stage, where to set up, where to remain, where to overflow," Calvinho said.
Dozens testified, hours of video evidence entered
The trial started in May and endured starts and stops before both parties finished calling evidence Friday and made closing arguments.
Hours of video evidence, much of it sourced from King's own social media, were entered into evidence by both sides. Other evidence included decibel maps that showed noise levels, as well as descriptions of how services like transit routes were disrupted.
During closing arguments, King appeared on a video screen from Red Deer, Alta., where he lives.
King's trial was highly anticipated by supporters and followers of the 2022 protests. He is one of the key convoy figures going through Ottawa courts.
If found guilty, any potential jail time for King is a moving target — but prosecutors have made clear he could face up to ten years in prison.
Hackland is planning to deliver his decision on Oct. 4, 2024, and has ordered King to be there in person.
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