The Crown will proceed with criminal charges against 15 of 27 protesters arrested last fall near a Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline worksite in the Houston area.
Prosecutor Trevor Shaw told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Marguerite Church on June 1, that the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) would be charging the 15 with criminal contempt for breaching the Court91裸聊视频檚 2019 injunction by participating in blockades and other anti-pipeline activities between September and November 2021.
Among the 15 is the Likhts91裸聊视频檃misyu Clan91裸聊视频檚 Chief Dsta91裸聊视频檋yl (Adam Gagnon), who was arrested Oct. 27, 2021 and charged with theft over $5,000 for allegedly decommissioning Coastal GasLink equipment while serving an eviction notice to company employees.
Not among the 15 was Sley91裸聊视频檇o (Molly Wickham), who has been at the forefront of the opposition to the natural gas pipeline crossing Wet91裸聊视频檚uwet91裸聊视频檈n territory in general and, in particular, drilling under the Wedzin Kwa (Morice River).
Shaw said with respect to 10 of those not charged, prosecutors need another four weeks for review, which 91裸聊视频渨ill focus on the defendants91裸聊视频� knowledge of the terms of the injunction, taking into account the way that those terms may have been communicated to them.91裸聊视频�
The Crown will not proceed with criminal charges against two individuals, Alexis Koome and Jay Myers, who were arrested Nov. 29 for blocking the road to the worksite.
91裸聊视频淲hile these last two individuals were involved in conduct that potentially infringed the injunction, there is insufficient evidence of their awareness of its terms 91裸聊视频� required for a substantial likelihood of conviction,91裸聊视频� Shaw said.
In a Facebook post May 29, the Gidim91裸聊视频檛en Checkpoint said CGL had asked for the criminal charges.
91裸聊视频淐GL has asked for the Attorney General to intervene and pursue criminal contempt charges against our land defenders for upholding Wet91裸聊视频檚uwet91裸聊视频檈n law,91裸聊视频� the post stated. 91裸聊视频淭he colonial courts want to criminalize us for enacting our sovereign right to defend our sacred headwaters, Wedzin Kwa, and all clean drinking water for everyone downstream.91裸聊视频�
In a statement posted to its website late yesterday (June 1), the company did not confirm it had asked for the prosecution but said it agrees with the decision.
91裸聊视频淎t Coastal GasLink the safety of our workforce, their families and the Indigenous and local communities is our number one priority, therefore we agree with the decision from the Crown to pursue criminal charges and hold the contemnors accountable for their actions.91裸聊视频�
CGL went on to say they have endured an escalating pattern of disruptive actions since December 2018 culminating in February with what the company describes as a 91裸聊视频渧iolent attack (February 17) on our workers by a group of masked, axe-wielding assailants at the Morice River Drill site.91裸聊视频�
No one was arrested in that incident and it is not related to the June 1 hearing. Cpl. Madonna Sauderson, a spokesperson for RCMP in northern B.C., said June 2, the investigation is ongoing.
In court documents provided by Daniel McLaughlin, communications counsel for the BCPS, the Crown said the proceeding June 1 was related to an invitation by the Supreme Court to consider criminal contempt charges.
91裸聊视频淪ince receiving the invitation, the BCPS has worked closely with the RCMP to obtain investigative material and has considered correspondence from (Frances) Mahon, counsel for a number of the defendants, dated May 27, 2022, and from the BC Union of Indian Chiefs dated April 14, 2022,91裸聊视频� it said. 91裸聊视频淐rown Counsel have applied both the evidentiary and public interest tests found in our civil disobedience .91裸聊视频�
This is the first time the Crown has decided to pursue criminal charges since police started enforcing the court injunction in February 2020.
editor@interior-news.com
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