Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Alberta cafe owner acquitted of Covid charges

Chris Scott, the owner of Red Deer's Whistle Stop Cafe, was acquitted of disobeying Alberta's Covid-19 public health orders.  

Red Deer judge acquits Whistle Stop's Chris Scott for violating COVID restrictions | Western Standard | Jonathan Bradley

August 28, 2023 - "A Red Deer judge dropped charges against Whistle Stop Cafe owner Chris Scott — more than two years after he was accused of disobeying COVID-19 restrictions. 'Mr. Scott I will acquit you of the charges, you're free to go,' said Justice James Glass at a Monday hearing covered by CBC News.... A courtroom packed with Scott’s supporters erupted, clapping and cheering. Hugs and handshakes followed as he left....  

""Scott decided to flout COVID-19 restrictions and open the Whistle Stop Cafe in 2021. He said he received overwhelming support and daily visits from the RCMP.... RCMP officers [arrested] Scott in 2021 after 1,500 of his supporters protested the Alberta government’s lockdowns. He was led through his parking lot to an RCMP vehicle where he was handcuffed and searched before being driven away. It marked the end of a day which saw people turn out from across Alberta to protest restrictions which saw the RCMP seize all of Whistle Stop’s alcohol and padlock it after a dawn raid..... 

"Crown attorney Peter Mackenzie invited Glass to acquit Scott because of the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta decision issued by Justice Barbara Romaine, which found the decision-making process in the Ingram case breached the Public Health Act. 'The submission by the Crown is that it's not going to carry on with the prosecution of this case as a result of the decision in Ingram,' said Mackenzie. 'In that light, it's not a sustainable prosecution.'

"An Alberta Health Services lawyer said it 'takes no position on Mr. Mackenzie's application'.

"The Alberta Crown Prosecutions Service (ACPS) said it has reviewed the decision in Ingram vs Alberta and has concluded there is no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction over Public Health Act charges involving the contravention of the disputed orders from the chief medical officer of health....ACPS said 14 prosecutions, including the cases of Scott, GraceLife Church pastor James Coates, and No More Lockdowns Rodeo organizer Ty Northcott, remain before the courts." 

Read more: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/red-deer-judge-acquits-whistle-stops-chris-scott-for-violating-covid-restrictions/article_0c3b4438-45e8-11ee-8f48-7b674aa2275c.html

Alberta café owner Chris Scott continues fighting for freedom in court | Rebel News | April 14, 2023:

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