Publication date: Jul 08, 2022 • 6 hours ago • 4 min read • 33 comments Tamara Lich was arrested in Medicine Hat, Alta., on a Canada-wide warrant on June 27 and, after being escorted to Ottawa by police, has remained in custody since then . Photo by Errol McGihon /Postmedia

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Tamara Lich remains in jail in Ottawa after a justice of the peace found she violated a condition of her release when she exchanged congratulations with a fellow “Freedom Convoy” organizer at an awards gala in Toronto last month.

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Lich, 49, was cleared during her latest bail review to attend the June 16 gala, where she accepted a “Freedom Award” from the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms and sat at the table with Maxime Bernier and central speaker Rex Murphy. Also sitting at the table was Tom Marazzo, one of several people Lich is barred from contacting as part of her parole. Lich was also pictured in a group photo from the event holding hands with Marazzo, Justice of the Peace Paul Harris said Friday as he denied Lich bail and sided with the Crown in finding her in violation. Lich’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, had argued that these actions were “so trivial” that they were never intended to be covered by the parole terms and “should not have been prosecuted”.

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Greenspon also suggested that contact between Lich and Marazzo would have been allowed because of the presence of Lich’s legal counsel at the gala. “Ms. Lich has chosen to exercise her freedom by not following a court-ordered no-contact condition with Mr. Marazzo,” Harris said, not holding back in a room full of reporters and supporters. of the Lich. “And she is doing it in such a way as to show off her energy under the false pretense of having her lawyers present. Even if Ms. Lich is able to demonstrate the presence of her attorney, it is important to reaffirm the spirit of the no-contact status.” Harris said the no-contact order was put in place to ensure there was no communication between the co-defendants, except to consult with an attorney to prepare a defense.

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While Marazzo’s name is included in the no-contact order, along with Pat King, Tyson Billings and others, Marazzo has not been charged in connection with the demonstration. “It’s absolutely ridiculous to think that the intent of (the no-contact order) could be superseded just by the presence of your attorney,” Harris said, turning to Leach as she sat in the prisoner’s box. “Your detention is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice. This is my decision.” Supporters of Tamara Lich gathered at the courthouse on Elgin Street Friday afternoon.74 Photo by Tony Caldwell/Postmedia Assistant Crown attorney Moiz Karimjee presented new evidence during Tuesday’s bail hearing in a series of text messages in which Lich discusses a “strategy to gridlock the city.” Leach was “clearly implicated” as one of the leaders of the “Freedom Accord,” Harris said in a summary of the Crown’s arguments on Friday.

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“The new evidence points to Ms. Lich’s involvement as a decision-maker in relation to putting the nation’s capital on hold,” Harris said in his ruling. “And, therefore, even though the convoy protest is now over, the ‘freedom’ protests continue here in Ottawa and in other cities across Canada. “Ma’am. The Lich’s involvement, in the opinion of this court, continues to pose a risk to the protection and safety of the public.” Harris also rejected arguments by Lich’s attorneys that she should be allowed to sit next to Marazzo at the gala and be photographed with him because her legal counsel was present at the event. The JCCF has acknowledged funding her legal defense, and the organization’s lawyers are representing Lich in related civil proceedings.

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Harris called it a “flawed argument.” “Ms. Lich chose to sit at her table, or at least remain at her table with Mr. Tom Marazzo, in close contact,” Harris said. “No evidence has been provided by her defense to confirm the presence of legal counsel , nor legal counsel’s permission for Ms. Lich to sit with Mr. Marazzo and take a picture, hugging Mr. Marazzo. “Ms. Lich was granted permission to attend the (JCCF) awards gala,” Harris said. “The permission granted (by the previous judge) did not envision Ms. Lich sitting at a table with Mr. Marazzo, to communicate with Mr. Marazzo—no matter how trivial—and to pose for a picture with Mr. Marazzo afterwards. “Such actions certainly erode public confidence in the administration of justice,” he said.

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Harris said the evidence showed that Leach “is not willing to follow court orders and is prepared to do whatever she wants to do.” Harris said he had received judicial notice of the chaos caused by the “Freedom Convoy” truckers’ protest and referred to the “high gravity” of the offence. Lich is charged with providing advice on a number of related offences, including battery, intimidation and obstructing police. “It is the Crown’s belief that the objective weight of the new information (the ‘grid’ texts) and this breach could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years,” Harris said. Lich “was a recognized decision maker” and the judge said he found her actions “disturbing in light of the events of last February here in the nation’s capital… “Her communications alone indicate that she may have been some kind of ringleader, and it will be up to a trial court to determine how critical a role she played in the decision to foreclose on the city,” Harris said. “Like her co-accused, Ms. Leach will, at some point, have to answer for her involvement and her role.” [email protected] Twitter.com/helmera

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