On November 14 an Ontario Superior Court judge ruled that all charges against Randy Hillier stemming from the 2022 Freedom Convoy be dropped, agreeing that Hillier's Charter right to be tried within a reasonable time frame had been violated.
Convoy protest charges against ex-MPP Randy Hillier stayed due to delays | Ottawa Citizen | Ken warren:
November 18, 2024 - "All charges against former MPP Randy Hillier relating to the February 2022 convoy protest in Ottawa have been stayed.... Hillier, who represented Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston as an independent after being removed from the Conservative caucus in 2019, had been facing a nine-pack of charges stemming from the trucker blockade along Wellington Avenue in front of Parliament Hill. The charges included two counts of mischief, three counts of counselling to commit an indictable offence, three counts of obstructing a police officer and one count of assaulting a police officer.
"In a ruling dated Thursday, Superior Court Justice Kerry McVey agreed with Hillier’s argument that his Charter right to be tried within a reasonable time frame had been violated. A four-week trial had been scheduled to begin next Jan. 27 in Ottawa, with an anticipated ending of Feb. 25. That would amount to a total of 34 months 28 days since police charged Hillier. Factoring in 105 days for delays caused by the defence and for 'exceptional circumstances,' McVey ruled that Hillier had been waiting for 31 months 13 days for a trial.
"A previous 30-month ceiling on delays had been established by the Supreme Court in the 2016 decision R v. Jordan. 'As a result, the application is granted,' McVey wrote. 'The charges against Mr. Hillier are dropped'....
"The case against Hillier included charges that he inspired his 56,000 online followers to flood non-emergency police lines during the convoy protest demonstration despite a police plea to the public to keep communication channels open. Police had received 274 malicious calls during a six-day period, according to the Crown case. Hillier had told his on-line supporters to keep calling because 'in a democracy, expressing yourself is a fundamental freedom.'
"The prosecution also said Hillier had disregarded a police officer’s directions and used his shoulder to push an officer away, allowing demonstrators to pass through a barricade.
"Despite emergency orders against it, the Crown also contended that Hillier told his supporters to continue stocking the protesters with gasoline and food."
Read more: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/convoy-protest-charges-ex-mpp-randy-hillier-stayed-delays
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