Open in full screen mode Steeve Charland was asked repeatedly if he was just a spokesperson during the convoy of truckers in Ottawa during his cross-examination on Thursday. In this photo, Mr Charland gives evidence to the State of Emergency Commission. (Archive photo) Feature being tested Log inCreate my account Speech synthesis, based on intelligence artificial, allows you to generate a spoken text from a written text. The start, Thursday, of the cross-examination of Steeve “L’Artiss” Charland was marked by tough exchanges with the Crown lawyer. The accused was repeatedly suggested that he was much more than a simple spokesperson for the convoy of truckers in Ottawa and that he was rather involved in its organization. Steeve Charland is currently on trial in the Superior Court of Ontario. He is accused of misdeeds and encouraging others to commit misdeeds during the blockade that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in 2022. Do you agree [with the idea that] you were much more than just a spokesperson, as you introduced yourself on Tuesday? asked Mr. François Dulude, who was referring to his testimony. That's your opinion, replied Charland. You keep pretending you were just a spokesperson? insisted Me Dulude. I was in the center of the nucleus, with 13 other people, explained the accused. This one spoke of the core of the group Les Farfadaas, which has since disbanded.
Steeve Charland with members of the former group Les Farfadaas in Ottawa during the truckers' convoy (Archive photo)
< p class="StyledBodyHtmlParagraph-sc-48221190-4 hnvfyV">The lawyer then asked him if all the members of the core received donations in their bank accounts and if they all distributed wads of cash to the demonstrators, to which Charland replied that several members of the core did the same.< /p>
Me Dulude also maintained Thursday that the big forgotten in his testimony are the residents of Ottawa, who have all suffered equally, according to him, from the repercussions of the convoy of truckers.
Charland called the suggestion false, although he admitted that some people were bothered by the protesters' presence. p>
You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, added Chaland.
He said that a few days ago, outside the Ottawa courthouse, an Ottawa resident who lives on Wellington Street came to bring him a bottle of whiskey and money to pay his bills. legal fees.
Are you making fun of their [residents’] suffering? continued Mr. Dulude.
I don't make fun of their suffering, said Charland.
This question from the Crown also provoked the reaction of a relative of the accused in the room, which earned her a warning from the judge.
The Crown then questioned Charland on his definition of a demonstration.
You don't paralyze the heart of a city for weeks, do you agree? launched Me Dulude.
The norms of demonstrations are not written anywhere. It is not written that there has to be an end, argued Charland. However, he recognized that the right to demonstrate was subject to legal limits, which he did not cross during the trucker convoy, according to him.
Steeve Charland also hopes that the legal actions taken against participants in the truckers' convoy will be the starting point for a reflection on the limits of demonstrations.
Charland took the opportunity to mention that a demonstration in support of Palestine caused the closure of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge in Montreal for nearly two hours Thursday and no one has yet been arrested.
Please note, however, that the Sûreté du Québec has opened an investigation into this matter.
< p class="StyledBodyHtmlParagraph-sc-48221190-4 hnvfyV">The cross-examination of Steeve Chaland is scheduled to continue Friday at the Ottawa courthouse.
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