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An aide to the royal lawyer claims that Tamara Leach violated her bail conditions when she agreed to accept an award and be a “brand ambassador” for a convoy pendant.
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May 20, 2022 • 11 hours ago • 4 minutes reading • 27 comments Tamara Leach, pictured during the Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa earlier this year, returns to court this week to review the terms for release on bail. Photo by Patrick Doyle / Reuters
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A judge will decide on Wednesday whether Tamara Leach should be returned to prison for alleged breaches of bail conditions or whether those conditions should be eased to restore Leach’s access to her social media accounts.
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Supreme Court Justice Kevin Phillips will consider comprehensive arguments on both opposing motions heard during a two-day bilateral review of bail, with Assistant Attorney General Moiz Karimji arguing that Leach’s bail should be revoked for accepting a “sentence for Freedom ”by the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms, among other alleged violations.
This week, a long-awaited bail review of one of Convoy for Freedom’s most prominent leaders was originally scheduled for Leach’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspan, to challenge the condition of a bail that restricts her use of social media accounts.
Greenspon claims that this condition is too broad and restrictive, which amounts to complete “expulsion”.
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The Crown argues that Leach should be returned to prison on the grounds that she “continued to support her cause for the convoy” by agreeing to accept the 2022 George Jonas Freedom Award, which will be presented to gala on June 16 in Toronto featuring keynote speaker Rex Murphy.
Consideration of the bail resumed on Friday, with Karimji accusing Leach of violating her bail conditions – once she agreed to accept the award, and again when she agreed to be a “brand ambassador” for a pendant. convoy.
Karimji suggested that they were both raising money for “Freedom Convoy” causes, which would violate the terms of her release. The veteran prosecutor also speculated that the JCCF, a legal advocacy group and a staunch supporter of the Freedom Convoy, was funding its legal protection.
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Leach testified from his home in Alberta that he did not believe that accepting the George Jonas Freedom Prize from the JCCF for 2022 was a violation, while Greenspon immediately filed an objection to any issues related to her legal fees.
“Come on. I object,” Greenspan said, citing a “clear case” of the privilege between a lawyer and a client.
Supreme Court Justice Kevin Phillips sided with Greenspan on the issue, ruling that the confidentiality of the privilege between a lawyer and a client “far exceeds” any value that evidence of her legal fees could provide to the proceedings.
Temperatures dropped significantly in Courtroom 36 until the hearing resumed on Friday after a heated hearing on Thursday, which included a rare exchange of questions between Karimji and Phillips, the presiding judge.
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At one point, Karimji asked the judge to “take away”, which Phillips rejected.
Karimji continued her cross-examination of Leach on Friday, accusing her of violating a second condition of the March 7 release order, which forbids her from posting anything on social media or allows anyone else to post on her behalf.
Karimji created a social media post in which Leach carried a truck-decorated pendant and the words “Freedom Canada,” which Karimji said were being sold in online fundraising in support of the convoy.
“There is no support convoy,” Leach said. “I understand (the condition means) that there is nothing to do with the convoy or future protests.”
Leach acknowledged the gala event and the award may be “related” to the convoy’s cause, but said: “I don’t think it’s a violation.”
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Leach has been barred from entering Ontario as part of her release. She said she hopes to attend similar JCCF events in Calgary and Vancouver.
Leach, meanwhile, said the pendant was sent to her by a supporter and she returned the favor by sending back a photo of herself wearing the necklace.
“I did not see this as support for the convoy. I was just kind and grateful, “Leach said. “I don’t think (it’s connected) … I don’t see what a violation it is. This is a necklace that someone gave me. I didn’t really see the harm in that. “
Leach’s bail, whose identity is protected by a ban on publishing, also testified via video link on Friday, and expressed surprise when Karimji presented the pendant and suggested that the photo violated Lich’s ban on social media.
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Karimji called on the judge to send a “strong message” in his ruling, saying Leach had committed “unpleasant and blatant violations” of the conditions of his release.
Admitting these violations “would make a mockery of our judiciary,” Karimji said, and would “undermine the credibility of the bail system.”
Greenspan said the Crown had made several attempts, but “didn’t even come close” to challenging its client’s trust.
“If there is one thing that undermines the credibility of the judiciary, it would be to re-arrest the alleged first offender for alleged violations … that do not involve violence, injuries, any weapons,” Greenspon said. “If there is ever a case in which justice is undermined, it would be to join the crown and return Ms. Leach to prison.”
Leach and his fellow protester, Chris Barber, have been jointly charged with accidents, obstructing police, advising others to commit mischief and intimidation.
Leach was arrested on February 17 and initially denied bail on February 22, although that decision was overturned on March 7 and she was ordered to return home with a list of conditions, including a broad order not to “orally, in writing, financially or in any other way to support something related to the convoy of freedom. “
ahelmer@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/helmera
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