A court hearing in Coutts, Alberta revealed shocking details about a man accused of making death arrangements for his cat while participating in a blockade.
The accused, who cannot be named due to a publication ban, is facing charges of mischief and obstruction of a peace officer for his involvement in a blockade at the Coutts border crossing on May 13, 2021.
During the hearing, the court heard that the accused had made arrangements for his cat’s care in the event of his death while participating in the blockade. The accused had allegedly left a note with his cat’s food and water, instructing whoever found the cat to take care of it.
The Crown prosecutor argued that this showed the accused’s intention to remain at the blockade for an extended period of time, causing disruption and inconvenience to others.
The defence, however, argued that the accused had made the arrangements out of concern for his pet’s well-being and that he had no intention of causing harm or inconvenience to anyone.
The court also heard that the accused had been involved in previous protests and had a history of participating in peaceful demonstrations.
The judge reserved his decision on the matter and the accused was released on bail with conditions to stay away from the Coutts border crossing and to not participate in any protests or blockades.
The case has sparked debate about the use of blockades as a form of protest and the potential consequences for those involved.
The accused is scheduled to appear in court again on July 14, 2021.
