Murder-conspiracy trial hears of guns found in travel trailer near Coutts blockade
An RCMP officer has told a murder-conspiracy trial that several weapons were discovered inside a travel trailer parked near the 2022 border blockade at Coutts, Alta.
Sgt. Gary MacLaren testified Thursday that he went into the trailer on Feb. 14, 2022, after it had been cleared by a police emergency response team.
"There was an assault-style rifle sitting on top of the master bed. In the kitchen area, there was a shotgun sitting on a bench, some portable radios, some bear spray," MacLaren said.
"As I went down into the trailer further, there was another assault rifle on an upper bunk, on the right hand side as you entered that backroom, and a tactical vest on the floor, green in colour, and a box of ammunition."
Another rifle was found underneath the mattress, along with ammunition, in the bedroom, he said.
Officers also discovered a machete and two sets of body armour, as well as a driver's licence and a firearms acquisition certificate belonging to one of the accused, Chris Carbert.
Carbert and Anthony Olienick were charged with conspiracy to commit murder after police raided the trailer and two others parked on private property in Coutts.
The trial has heard the property owner had allowed the two accused and other protesters to stay there.
Undercover Mounties previously testified that Olienick considered the blockade a war, and he expressed a hatred of police and a desire to kill officers.
They said Olienick also told them he had a stockpile of weapons, including dozens of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The jury saw a video and dozens of photos taken inside the trailer. Next to the rifle on the bunk was a handgun inside a holder.
A backpack with .223-calibre ammunition was found in a closet. A full box with 500 rounds of ammunition was sitting on the floor.
Carbert's lawyer, Katherin Beyak, expressed concern that MacLaren called the rifles "assault-style" weapons.
Justice David Labrenz cautioned the jury not to read too much into the term.
"Language can seep into your thinking if you're not careful," he said.
"When you describe something as an assault rifle, don't let the description deflect you from your job in determining what the firearms that have been referred to mean in the context of all the evidence."
The blockade in protest of COVID-19 rules and vaccine mandates paralyzed traffic at the busy Canada-U.S. border crossing for two weeks.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Biden and Harris call the Israeli strike killing Hezbollah’s Nasrallah a 'measure of justice'
The Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah was a 'measure of justice' for victims of a four-decade 'reign of terror,' U.S. President Joe Biden said Saturday.
SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year
SpaceX launched a rescue mission for the two stuck astronauts at the International Space Station on Saturday, sending up a downsized crew to bring them home but not until next year.
Why Will Ferrell wanted a doc about his friendship with a trans woman to release before the U.S. election
Will Ferrell said in an interview with Variety that it was important for him to release his documentary, 'Will and Harper,' before the U.S. election so people could have conversations about trans people.
'I think he needs to go serve a few more meals:' Ottawa Mission CEO fires back at Ford encampment comments
The CEO of the Ottawa Mission is responding to controversial comments made this week by Premier Doug Ford about those living in homeless encampments that received swift blowback from advocates.
At least 56 dead and millions without power after Helene's deadly march across U.S. southeast
Massive rains from powerful Hurricane Helene left people stranded, without shelter and awaiting rescue Saturday, as the cleanup began from a tempest that killed at least 56 people, caused widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast and left millions without power.
LGBTQ2S+ minister Pascale St-Onge to make history with parental leave
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge is set to make history by becoming the first openly lesbian cabinet minister to take parental leave when her wife gives birth in the coming weeks.
They hit it off on vacation but then he went silent. So she decided to pick up the phone
When a few weeks passed and Nana Prempeh still hadn’t heard from the guy she met on vacation, she turned to her friends for advice.
What is open and closed this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
This Monday, Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), a federal statutory holiday and day of remembrance for the Indigenous children who never came home from Canadian residential schools, as well as those who survived them.
Sima Sistani, who embraced Ozempic, is out as CEO of WeightWatchers
WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani, who pushed the company into embracing weight-loss drugs, is leaving the position after a two-and-a-half year stint.