Guilty Verdict for 3 men in Coutts trial

Jurors deliberated for just three hours Tuesday before finding three men guilty for their roles in the 2022 highway blockade at the Coutts border crossing. 

The trial for Alex Van Herk, Gerhard Janzen and Marco Van Huigenbos lasted just under two and a half weeks. On April 16 at around 8:30 p.m. six men and six women read the verdict.

The three were found guilty of one count each of mischief over $5,000 for their involvement in a protest over COVID-19 government restrictions. The accused were free to leave the courthouse, but could still face 10-years in prison, and will be sentenced at a later date.

We spoke with Marco Van Huigenbos who says he wasn’t surprised about the verdict but still stands behind what he did.

Van Huigenbos is a former town councillor for Fort MacLeod, he is married with four young children. He and his co-accused will return to court July 22nd to hear a sentencing date.

Just after the verdict was read, Alex Van Herk told reporters outside the courthouse that he too stands behind what he did at the border but says the judicial system simply did its job.