LIVE UPDATES: Jury expected to receive instructions in trial of three alleged leaders of Coutts border protest

The trial for Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos, and George Janzen continues today in Lethbridge, Alberta. The three men are each being charged with mischief over $5000 and facing up to 10 years in prison for allegedly being “key participants” of the 2022 Coutts border blockade.

Yesterday’s proceedings focused on the prosecution and defence teams offering requests and suggestions to Justice Yamauchi regarding the instructions that will be provided to the jury.

The jury is expected to return to the courtroom during today’s proceedings to receive their instructions from the judge before convening to deliberate on a verdict.

The 18-day Coutts demonstration saw dozens of protesters unite in opposition to government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions in early 2022 near the border of Coutts, Alberta and Sweet Grass, Montana.

Rebel News reporter Robert Kraychik is on the ground at the Lethbridge courthouse, providing independent reporting on the trial of the Coutts Three.

Follow along below for live updates from the trial:

I wish I could take photographs/videos to share, but all recording is prohibited across the entire courthouse (an absurd rule that’s also in place in the Ottawa Courthouse). https://t.co/hgspaAdGr6 https://t.co/mIhJKvGq4E

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) April 16, 2024

Courtroom is absolutely PACKED. There’s even a few news media people here in the “accredited media” benches alongside me. The Coutts Three defendants have many supporters of high quality and character, which I think is a testament to them as men. https://t.co/LNZIIEjGra

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) April 16, 2024

Big day ahead in the Coutts Three trial in Lethbridge, AB. The jury is expected to to receive ita instructions from Justice Keith Yamauchi ahead of its retirement for deliberations to render verdicts. https://t.co/LNZIIEjGra pic.twitter.com/5qTCL0FEjH

— Robert Kraychik (@rkraychik) April 16, 2024