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By Canadian Press

Trial for Calgary pastor involved in Coutts border blockade expected to wrap today

Feb 3, 2023 | 11:08 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A verdict in the trial of a Calgary pastor who is accused of encouraging truckers to keep blocking the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Coutts, Alberta to protest COVID-19 restrictions won’t be coming soon.

Artur Pawlowski is on trial in Lethbridge, Alta. on charges of breaching a release order and mischief over his actions at the border crossing a year ago.

The Crown’s case against Pawlowski consists of an agreed statement of facts and a 20-minute video of a speech he gave to protesters urging them to hold their ground because the eyes of the world were upon them.

The Crown says the pastor broke the law by giving a speech to encourage the continuation of a crime.

Pawlowski’s lawyer says her client was only expressing an opinion and wasn’t telling the protesters to do anything illegal.

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Arguments at the trial are to wrap up Friday but the judge says it will be weeks before he is ready to deliver a verdict.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 2, 2023.

The Canadian Press