Crown seeking ‘grotesque’ sentence lengths for convoy leaders
Naveen Day- 0
- 1 minute read
On July 23, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber will learn their fate at a sentencing hearing. Ottawa Crown prosecutors are seeking a seven-year prison sentence for Lich and an eight-year sentence for her co-accused Barber over their roles in organizing the 2022 Freedom Convoy—despite acknowledging the protest was peaceful and largely non-violent. The Crown alleges the protest held in the Capital amounted to “mass mischief” and an “attack on essential values of democracy,” arguing the demonstration’s impact justifies lengthy prison terms. The seven years for both Lich and Barber are for their mischief convictions, but the Crown is asking for an additional year for Barber who was also convicted of counselling others to disobey a court order. They are also looking to seize his truck known as ‘Big Red’, which led the convoy from Saskatchewan to Ottawa. Toronto-based criminal defense lawyer Ari Goldkind says the sentences requested by the Crown are one of the most ‘grotesque’ he has ever seen.
