Arms contractor granted discharge over assault on protester at Ottawa arms expo

OTTAWA — An Ontario court judge has granted a discharge to a British military veteran over an assault outside a military equipment show in the nation’s capital.

David Henschel pleaded guilty last year to assaulting a young pro-Palestinian protester in 2024 at the annual CANSEC arms expo in Ottawa.

Henschel was issued a $5,000 fine for failing to appear in person for his sentencing earlier this month and the Crown says it has filed for appeal.

Henschel, who worked for a Swiss munitions firm, travelled to Canada for the convention from his home in Switzerland and had several tense exchanges with protesters while walking from his hotel to the venue.