Pat King found guilty of mischief for role in ‘Freedom Convoy’
He could face up to 10 years in prison.
Pat King, a prominent figure in the 2022 "Freedom Convoy" protest in Ottawa, has been found guilty on five charges, including mischief and disobeying a court order.
On Friday, a judge in Ottawa determined that the Crown had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that King was guilty of one count each of mischief, counselling others to commit mischief, and counselling others to obstruct police. He was also found guilty of two counts of disobeying a court order.
The January 2022 convoy attracted thousands of demonstrators to Parliament Hill, protesting against public health restrictions, COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and the federal government. The protest led to a gridlock of downtown streets near Parliament Hill, disturbing residents with constant honking, diesel fumes, and loud music.
King, an Alberta resident, was acquitted of three counts of intimidation and one count of obstructing police.
He could face up to 10 years in prison.
In response to the protests, which expanded to block U.S.-Canada border crossings, the federal Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act to end the demonstrations. Ottawa Police brought in additional officers from across Canada to help restore order.
King’s defense argued that he was merely participating in a peaceful protest and was not a leader of the convoy.
However, the Crown contended that King was a key leader, playing a central role in organizing the disruptions. The Crown presented evidence that King coordinated the honking, instructing protesters to sound their horns every 30 minutes for 10 minutes at a time. It was also claimed that he told the protesters to "hold the line" despite requests from authorities and the city for them to disperse.
The Crown’s case relied heavily on videos King posted to social media, in which he documented the protest and communicated with other demonstrators.
King's trial took place over several weeks between May and July.
