Convoy trial defence lawyer argues police directed protesters into downtown Ottawa

A lawyer for one of the leaders of what became the "Freedom Convoy" described in a criminal trial Wednesday how police assisted protesters into the city during the winter of 2022.

Lawrence Greenspon, representing Tamara Lich, said protesters were invited into the city by police and told how to get into the city core.

"They were directed how to get off the highway, what roads to take, where to park in the downtown core of Ottawa and on Wellington Street," Greenspon said outside of court. "They didn't just end up there. They were directed there."

He had spent the afternoon cross-examining Ottawa's manager of emergency and protective services Kim Ayotte, who was testifying in the trial.

Lich and Chris Barber are charged with mischief, counselling others to commit mischief, intimidation and obstructing police for their role in the February 2022 protests against COVID-19 measures, as well as other grievances with the federal government.

The Crown is trying to establish Lich and Barber had "control and influence" over the crowds and encouraged others to join the protests while also fundraising. 

"This case is not about their political beliefs," prosecutor Tim Radcliffe said in his opening. "What is at issue here is the means they employed — not the end — the means to achieve their political purpose, and whether it was lawful or not."

But Greenspon pointed to internal city notes and an Ottawa police traffic plan to show that protesters followed directions when they first arrived in the city.

"They were invited into the city of Ottawa. They were told how to get into the city core," he said.

Greenspon added it's "nonsense" to suggest — as Ayotte at one point did — that the protesters were only expected to stay for two days.

"There's no time limit on freedom," he said. "The Charter of Rights doesn't talk about the right to peaceful assembly for you know, up to 48 hours."

Greenspon said the city knew protesters were coming and booking hotels for 30 days and longer.

"And this this business about well, we only thought they're going to stay for two days," he said. "Nonsense."

Ayotte said plans to keep an emergency lane open on Wellington Street, which runs directly in front of Parliament Hill, failed and were "lost" after the first night of protesting due to trucks being chained together to stop them from being moved.