'He was a messenger': Defence disputes accused was leader at Alberta border blockade
A lawyer for one of three men on trial for their roles in the border blockade at Coutts, Alta., argued Thursday his client was nothing more than a messenger.
Crown prosecutors have told jurors they intend to prove the trio spearheaded the protest that tied up traffic between at the Canada-United States border crossing for two weeks in early 2022 in protest of COVID-19 pandemic rules and restrictions.
Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos and Gerhard Janzen have each pleaded not guilty to a charge of mischief over $5000.
RCMP Sgt. Greg Tulloch has testified he worked to establish a dialogue with the protesters and identified Van Huigenbos as the main contact.
During cross-examination, a lawyer for Van Huigenbos questioned whether his client really was a leader or if, like the officer, he was simply a conduit delivering messages to those in charge.
"Have you ever heard the phrase, 'Don't shoot the messenger?' I'm going to suggest that's really what Marco was here. He was a messenger, a communicator, a spokesperson for the group — not a leader," Ryan Durran told the jury trial.
Tulloch replied: "That's far too simplified from the impression I was left with. Because when things were happening, they happened immediately after Marco said he would do something or transmit a message.
"There was no lag time a lot of the time, whereas I would have that lag time before something could happen."
Durran said Van Huigenbos was not considered an "agitator" and did not have a semi-trailer truck parked at the protest.
He said his client and others wanted the protest to leave Coutts and move up to Edmonton. The attempt failed.
Tulloch maintained that he considered Van Huigenbos to be at the top of the inner circle of the protest, followed by Janzen and, to a lesser degree, Van Herk.
The officer said Van Huigenbos appeared to be a leader, citing the accused's "ability to make things happen in the way that he did, the way he spoke about it and the way he told us what his role was … that, to me, does not signify messenger," Tulloch said.
"We continued to talk to him because he could make decisions, because he seemed to want to also deal with us."
Under further examination by the Crown, Tulloch said his job was to continue to communicate with the protesters, and finding a leader is the best way to go.
"The continuous meeting and speaking with other people was really just an opportunity to show us as being approachable and not the Gestapo we were being made out to be," said the officer , referring to police in Nazi Germany.
He said Van Huigenbos grew into the role of leader.
"I'm not sure that in the beginning that he orchestrated anything or that he caused all of this to start up," Tulloch said. "But certainly he assumed the role of leader when there was nobody else to do so."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill says pro-Palestinian protest outside senior administrator's home 'crosses the line'
McGill University has denounced a pro-Palestinian protest held Sunday outside the home of one of its senior administrators.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Katy Perry sings goodbye to 'American Idol'
Katy Perry said her goodbyes on 'American Idol' after seven seasons. On Sunday night’s live 'idol' season finale, a medley of Perry's hit songs were performed, including 'Teenage Dream,' 'Dark Horse' and 'California Gurls.'
Red Lobster probes 'endless shrimp' losses after bankruptcy filing
U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.
Judge cites error, will reopen sentencing hearing for man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband
A federal judge will reopen the sentencing hearing for the man who broke into Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home and bludgeoned her husband with a hammer after the judge failed to allow him to speak during his court appearance last week.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
Microsoft's AI chatbot will 'recall' everything you do on a PC
Microsoft wants laptop users to get so comfortable with its artificial intelligence chatbot that it will remember everything you're doing on your computer and help figure out what you want to do next.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.