Coutts trial set but charges await transfer

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on July 13, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Charges for three man accused of conspiring to kill RCMP officers during the protest at the Coutts border in January and February, are still waiting to be transfered to Court of Queen’s Bench.
Even though a trial date has been set in Court of Queen’s Bench for Anthony Olienick, Jerry Morin and Chris Carbert, to stand trial in June 2023, charges remain in Lethbridge provincial court awaiting transfer.
Provincial Crown M. Dalidowicz appeared in Lethbridge provincial court Tuesday to seek an adjournment to July 19 for the matters to be transferred to Court of Queen’s Bench indictment.
“Until we have confirmed that, that has been conclusively done, the Crown can’t make application to stay this provincial information,” said Dalidowicz.
Jerry Morin remains in custody with the co-accused who have previously been denied bail, waiting on Madam Justice J. Kubik’s decision on July 18 on whether he will be released from remand custody pending his trial.
All four men are, by direct indictment, to stand trial in Court of Queen’s Bench. Direct indictment, which was previously filed by the Crown, bypasses the defence option for a preliminary hearing.
The accused were charged in February with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief by impeding the lawful use of property. A person found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder is liable to imprisonment for life.
The charges stem from alleged offences in the Village of Coutts during the border protest, when police seized numerous long guns, handguns, a machete, ammunition, high capacity ammo magazines and body armour.
Nine other individuals were also arrested in relation to the protest and charged with mischief by impeding the lawful use of property and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Ursula Allred, Johnson Chichow Law, Evan Colenutt, Justin Martin, Eastin Stewart Oler, Joanne Person, Janx Zaremba, Luke Berk, and Jaclyne Martin, were released shortly after their arrests, and the matters for all the accused, with the exception of Zaremba and Person, are scheduled to return to provincial court this month. Person’s next court hearing is set for July 25, while Zaremba is set to stand Trial on Dec. 6.
-with files from Delon Shurtz

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