Tears from man accused of plotting to kill RCMP officers as bail is denied

An Alberta man accused of conspiring with three others to kill RCMP officers during blockades and protests at the Coutts border has been denied bail.

The other three were denied bail earlier this year.

Jerry Morin appeared on closed-circuit television apologizing for his unshaven appearance, explaining that he was “in the hole last week.”

Morin cried several times during his court appearance Monday, including as attorneys discussed a potential restraining order against his girlfriend after a judge refused to release him.

In the end, prosecutor Matt Dalidovich agreed to leave Jacqueline Martin’s name off the no-contact list, which includes the other 12 people charged in connection with the Coutts border crossing protests in January and February of this year.

Jonah Kubik, a Crown Court judge, denied Morin’s release after hearing submissions from Dalidovic and lawyer Greg Dunn on June 30.

All arguments, evidence and the judge’s reasons for the detention are protected by a publication ban.

Connection with a far-right militia group

Morin, Chris Lisak, Chris Carbert and Anthony Olynyk face charges of conspiracy to murder, possession of a weapon and criminal mischief.

They were charged in February after raids on trailers parked near the protest area led to the seizure of a cache of weapons, bulletproof vests and ammunition.

Some of the bulletproof vests seized had stripes belonging to a far-right militia called Diagolon.

The trial of the four men is scheduled for June 2023. All four have now been denied bail pending trial.

Ten others, including Martin, face lesser charges related to the protests.

‘This is war’

In a video titled “Call to Action” and posted on Morin’s Facebook page a day before his arrest, he called the situation with Coates a “war” and encouraged others to join the fight.

In the video, Morin and Martin, who faces a charge of mischief over $5,000, urge people to come to Coutts to take part in the blockade.

“Come tonight, no excuses, this is war,” he says. “Now your country needs you more than ever.”