OTTAWA –
Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Leach has been denied bail and will remain in custody to await trial on criminal charges related to the Ottawa protest.
Justice of the Peace Paul Harris said on Friday that Leach’s defense had failed to prove she could be trusted not to reoffend after being charged last week with breaching her bail conditions.
By defaulting on bail, Harris said in his ruling that “Ms. Leach chose to exercise his freedom.
Her lawyer, Lawrence Greenspan, said Leach was “disappointed” by the decision and vowed to apply to the Ontario Superior Court for a bail review in hopes of appealing Harris’ decision.
Leach was arrested last month and charged with breaching a condition barring her from communicating with 10 people – except in the presence of their legal counsel – associated with the Freedom Convoy.
Leach also still faces one count of tampering with the signature, as well as other criminal charges related to her involvement in the protest that blocked Ottawa earlier this year.
In June, Leach attended a gala in Toronto, where she accepted a Freedom Award and was photographed with Tom Marrazzo, a spokesman for the protest.
During her bail hearing Tuesday, the Crown released a video showing Leach speaking briefly with Marrazzo after her acceptance speech.
Ottawa police detective Chris Benson also testified that Leach sat at the same table as Marazzo at the gala.
Greenspan argued that if there was any contact between Leach and Marrazzo, it was brief and suggested that Leach did not violate her bail conditions because the lawyers representing her in the civil case were present at the event.
Harris said in his ruling, the defense presented no evidence that Leach’s attorney was present at the table or in the video. He said it was “absolutely ridiculous” to think that the condition could only be excluded if there were lawyers at the same event.
“To add fuel to the fire, Ms. Leach chooses to pose hand in hand with Mr. Marrazzo,” Harris said in her ruling. “One would find that puzzling.”
Harris also cited new evidence presented by the Crown gleaned from a text message between her and convoy organizer Chris Barber, with whom she is jointly charged with intimidation and obstructing a peace officer, among other offences. Harris called the text messages “incriminating” Leach’s role as the organizer of the convoy.
Leach was first charged in February when police broke up the protest after almost three weeks.
She was released on bail in March and returned to Medicine Hat, Alta., after promising to abide by her bail conditions. A bail bondsman agreed to oversee her release and posted a $20,000 bond.
The Crown said during the bail hearing that it would require the surety to pay the money to the court.
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