'Just protesting': Accused at Coutts blockade surprised by murder-conspiracy charge
A protester arrested at the border blockade at Coutts, Alta., acted surprised when police told him he was being charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Anthony Olienick also said he didn't threaten to kill anyone.
About three hours of the video statement he gave to police after his arrest on Feb. 14, 2022, was played at his jury trial Monday.
In the video, the officer tells Olienick that he's being charged with mischief over $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, obstruction of critical infrastructure and conspiracy to commit murder.
"Conspiracy to commit murder ... it just means that you, along with at least one other person, had planned murders of the RCMP," says Cpl. Andrew Olfert.
"No way," Olienick replies.
"Tell me what that means to you," the officer said.
"I don't know. It seems really bizarre -- just protesting for freedom to parking trucks," Olienick says.
Olienick and a co-accused, Chris Carbert, are both on trial charged with conspiring to kill Mounties at the blockade, which paralyzed traffic for two weeks at the busy Canada-U.S. border crossing.
The blockade was one of several protests held across the country over COVID-19 rules and vaccine mandates.
The men were arrested after RCMP found a cache of guns, body armour and ammunition in trailers at Coutts.
Undercover officers previously testified that Olienick considered the blockade a war, and he expressed a hatred of police and a desire to kill officers.
Later in the video, Olienick blames the federal government for twisting the blockade out of proportion.
"I think a lot of the words get put into people's mouths. The government wants to make all of this peacefulness look evil," Olienick says.
"There wasn't a single act of any violence there. I don't think we're the fringe minority. That's for sure."
Olfert asks Olienick if there's any reason why investigators would charge him with conspiracy to commit murder.
"I didn't threaten anybody face-to-face, you know what I mean?" Olienick says.
"I don't know anybody that I would purposely say that to. I don't like (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau. I'd like to see him hang. He needs to be tried for treason ... and if proven guilty, like we know he is, hang him."
Olienick says in the video that there's lots of angry talk at the blockade about Trudeau and the federal Liberal government.
"Everybody's having those conversations," Olienick says.
"Maybe about killing the RCMP?" Olfert asks.
"No. Not the RCMP, because it's not you guys. It's the facilitators that are puppet-mastering you guys. That's why we need you guys to stand with us. It's as simple as that."
Justice David Labrenz told jurors they shouldn't read too much into the views expressed by the accused when considering the video as evidence.
"Neither accused is on trial for their belief systems or their ideas about the world or their views with respect to world order. They're only on trial with respect to the charges on the indictment," said the judge.
In the video, Olienick tells the officer that he wants to continue the fight.
"I wish I was still there. I need freedom."
The trial is set to resume Wednesday.
--
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 24, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Debate takeaways: Trump confident, even when wrong, Biden halting, even with facts on his side
Thursday’s U.S. presidential debate was a re-run that featured two candidates with a combined age of 159, but it went especially poorly for one of them, President Joe Biden.
NEW Car thieves tried accessing Ontario transportation ministry database
One of Canada's largest police forces has knowledge of car thieves attempting to breach Ontario's Ministry of Transportation database, CTV News has learned.
Liberal caucus staying quiet after major byelection defeat that rattled party
Liberal campaign co-chair Terry Duguid insisted Thursday that his caucus is united behind Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, even as the majority of elected Liberals remain silent on the prime minister's political future.
Princess Anne leaves hospital after treatment for concussion
Princess Anne has left the hospital and returned to her southwestern England estate after an accident thought to involve a horse left her with a concussion.
When heat waves strike, Environment Canada can link it to climate change -- fast
The heat wave that gripped Eastern Canada last week brought stifling conditions, put pressure on the electricity grid and broke several temperature records as residents sweltered.
FACT FOCUS: Here's a look at some of the false claims made during Biden and Trump's first debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump traded barbs and a variety of false and misleading information as they faced off in their first debate of the 2024 election.
Analysis of the CNN Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump
U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump went head-to-head in the first of two planned presidential debates.
Buying a car? Why you may have to pay more at some dealers if you use cash
It used to be cash was king and that you could get a better deal if you paid for a car in full, but now many dealers want you to finance your purchase so they can make more money.
What is going on with immigration in Canada? Here's what the data shows
Canada has welcomed more than 3.9 million new citizens since 2005, with nearly one third coming from India, the Philippines or China, according to a CTVNews.ca analysis.