By Canadian Press

Officer who interacted with Chris Barber back on stand in organizers trial

Oct 31, 2023 | 2:03 AM

OTTAWA — The trial of two “Freedom Convoy” organizers is set to resume today with the continued testimony of an officer who served as a liaison between the Ottawa Police Service and demonstrators.

Sgt. Jordan Blonde, a police officer who described himself as a “secondary” contact for Barber, will be back on the stand today.

On Friday, Blonde described “hostile” scenes leading up to a police operation to forcibly remove demonstrators out of Ottawa’s downtown in the early 2022 protests against COVID-19 public-health measures.

Crown prosecutors are expected to continue questioning Blonde today, but defence lawyers say they won’t be able to cross-examine him until the judge makes a ruling on the admissibility of internal police documents that police claim are protected by solicitor-client privilege.

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are facing multiple charges including mischief, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation.

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The Crown is seeking to prove that the two high-profile organizers had influence over the actions of protesting crowds.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2023.

The Canadian Press