Sentencing hearing begins for men convicted of leading Coutts blockade

LETHBRIDGE: So, today kicks off the sentencing hearing for three guys who were found guilty of coordinating that blockade at the Coutts border. You know, the one that happened back in early 2022 when folks were protesting COVID-19 rules?

These guys—Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos, and Gerhard Janzen—were all convicted of mischief over $5,000. They really stirred things up, tying up cross-border traffic for two weeks.

Interestingly, their defense didn’t call any witnesses during the trial, and they didn’t even take the stand themselves. The Mounties said that as the protest dragged on, they started looking to these three for negotiations.

The Crown made a strong case, saying these guys were the faces of the blockade, speaking for the protesters. The prosecutor pointed out that they used words like “we” and “us,” which made them more than just messengers.

In a different case, two other protesters were charged with conspiracy to murder police officers during the blockade. They were found not guilty of that but got hit with other charges, including possessing a firearm. They ended up with 6 1/2 years in prison.

Van Huigenbos, one of the convicted men, was at that sentencing hearing and thinks the Crown will push for a longer sentence for him. He mentioned that he wouldn’t be surprised if they ask for something like a year and a half.

This hearing was supposed to happen back in September, but it got pushed back so Van Huigenbos could find a new lawyer. It’s definitely a tense situation for these guys as they wait to see what the judge decides.