Pat King, one of the leaders of the escort, remains in jail for 113 days after he was arrested for his role in a demonstration that took to the streets of downtown Ottawa for more than a month. King is co-accused with Tyson George Billings, who was arrested on similar charges over the weekend as police dispersed protesters. Often on King’s side, Billings is known among his supporters as “Freedom George” and gained notoriety during the February protests over his thriving “Let’s Go!” Chants. and “Freedom!” Billings is behind bars for 112 days. Both continue to refuse bail. Police have never released the full list of those arrested and charged after the Freedom Escort, but at least a handful of lesser-known people involved are still in jail. According to a legal expert, King and Billings have probably already served longer prison terms than they would if they were convicted and convicted. “We are already reaching a period of pre-trial detention that goes beyond possible punishment,” said Joao Veloso, a law professor at the University of Ottawa. Others arrested during the protest, such as Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, are awaiting trial on bail. However, they are active on social media promoting neighboring movements, including election campaigns and future demonstrations.
The King “hit enough” in prison
A pastor who tries to visit King regularly in prison at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Center disputes the length of time he has been incarcerated.
“He is quite trampled on,” said Melissa McKee, pastor of the Ottawa Capital Cyclists Church, which offered shelter during normal hours to protesters during Freedom Convoy.
King continues to be frustrated with the judiciary – he went through a series of lawyers before hiring his current spokeswoman, Natasha Calvinho, but continues to face charges of misconduct, advising on a felony, breaking a court order, and advising on how to prevent it. police.
In the midst of a hearing to review the April bail, King was charged with obstruction of justice and forgery.
All evidence presented during the review of the bail is subject to a publication ban, which is often requested and provided to prevent possible bias before the trial.
Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online
Supporters regularly seek the latest information on King, and many continue to see him as a driving force behind Freedom Convoy and its ongoing movement. Mckee says that no matter what people may think of him, being in prison for so long is not easy. “I do not count Pat with Tamara or Chris Barber, I count what he did, what he did? He made live videos on Facebook gathering people, he knew there was a chance he would be arrested, but [113] days? “ Mckee says she regularly serves people in need of what she calls “heart care” or “spiritual care.” “I’m literally doing the same thing as Pat King doing for anyone who knocked on our door,” she said, adding that God had asked her life to help people in need. Earlier this month, after King spent more than 100 days in jail, a support group on his behalf launched a letter-writing campaign asking people to send him notes of support in prison. “After 100 days in prison when he was mentally exhausted, Pat King is being pressured to agree to a silencing order to silence his voice after his release. Send letters of support to Pat King at the following address, encouraging him to keep the line! ” wrote David Paisley, who runs the popular social networking channel “Live from the Shed”. Billings supporters continue to demand money for him through online fundraising – in late May, a post on his Facebook page, allegedly run by his daughter, said Billings needed repairs to his “Freedom truck” and suggested that his release will come soon. “Any small amount helps. Thank you all for everything you have done and continue to do for Eleftheria Giorgos, thank you all for the cards and the support you all gave him. He loves you all so much,” he wrote in part of this message. Billings’s legal counsel did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Most adults in prison await trial, conviction
Legal expert Velloso notes that about 80 percent of the prison population is in a similar situation to King: he is awaiting trial for a case that will be decided within a month or even a week, because people have already served any possible sentence. that could eventually be given to them. According to Statistics Canada, since 2004, the average number of adults awaiting trial or conviction in the county service is higher than the average number of adults sentenced to detention – in recent years, it is about 70 percent higher. In Ontario and most provinces, more than half of the people in prison are awaiting trial or sentencing. “For King … he will be in pre-trial detention for a while, and if you look at the general trends of criminal punishment in Canada, he has probably already served his time,” Veloso said.
