OTTAWA – A decide has denied a second request by former Ontario MPP Randy Hillier, who’s dealing with fees associated to his participation within the “Freedom Convoy” protest, to maneuver his jury trial away from Ottawa.
Hillier’s lawyer David Anber had argued that “widespread bias” in opposition to the 2022 protest, which disrupted the capital metropolis’s downtown core for 3 weeks may taint the views of jurors.
Ontario Superior Court docket Justice Anne London-Weinstein says that though there’s a chance of prejudice in opposition to Hillier in Ottawa, she is happy that authorized safeguards will guarantee he has a good trial within the metropolis.
A abstract of the decide’s choice additionally says that given the numerous media consideration paid to the embattled former politician’s case, a possible jury needs to be appropriately screened.
Hillier, who represented an Ottawa-area using from 2007 to 2022, is dealing with 9 felony fees associated to his function within the demonstrations in opposition to COVID-19 public-health measures and the federal Liberals.
These fees embody assaulting a peace officer, mischief, counselling others to commit mischief and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Sept. 28, 2023.
