The organizer of the “Freedom Convoy” protest, Pat King, has announced that he will not be testifying at his trial, according to the Crown.
King, who is facing charges of mischief and obstructing a peace officer, had previously indicated that he would be taking the stand in his own defense.
However, on Monday, the Crown informed the court that King had changed his mind and would not be testifying.
The “Freedom Convoy” protest, which took place in January, saw thousands of truckers and other demonstrators gather in Ottawa to protest against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.
During the protest, there were reports of violence and clashes with police, leading to several arrests.
King, who is from Alberta, was one of the main organizers of the event and has been a vocal critic of government measures to combat the pandemic.
His trial began last week and is expected to continue for several more days.
The Crown has called several witnesses, including police officers and government officials, to testify against King.
It is not yet clear how King’s decision not to testify will impact the outcome of the trial.
The defense has argued that King was not responsible for the actions of all the protesters and that he was simply exercising his right to peaceful protest.
The judge is expected to deliver a verdict in the coming weeks.
