Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich has been denied bail for violating the conditions of her release when she met with another convoy organizer at an awards gala. She will remain in jail until her trial.."Your detention is necessary to maintain confidence in the administration of justice," Justice of the Peace Paul Harris told the court on Friday afternoon. .Lich, who was physically present at the courthouse after tuning in virtually to Monday's hearing, has been in prison since she was taken into custody in Medicine Hat, Alberta, on June 27..Ottawa police issued a Canada-wide warrant for Lich's arrest after she met with Freedom Convoy organizer Tom Marazzo at the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms' awards gala on June 17. Lich spoke with Marazzo after receiving her award, was seated with him at a table, and posed alongside him for a photograph..One of Lich's bail conditions was she cannot contact or communicate, in any way, with a list of people associated with the convoy, except through counsel or in the presence of counsel..Lich faces charges of mischief, counselling mischief, obstructing police, counselling to obstruct police, counselling intimidation, and intimidation by blocking and obstructing one or more highways in relation to the Freedom Convoy protest that ground downtown Ottawa to a halt for three weeks. .Harris told the courtroom that it was a reverse onus situation, meaning Lich needed to prove she did not breach her bail conditions..The defence's position was that there was no mens rea, that Lich’s contact with Marazzo was inconsequential, and it was not a serious misconduct because it lasted less than three seconds..But Harris said this was a "faulty argument" since Lich made a conscious decision to sit at the table with Marazzo..Harris also noted that at the gala, no other person seated at the table was identified as Lich’s legal counsel, and the defence provided no verifiable evidence that her defence counsel was present at gala.."It is absolutely ridiculous to think the court order condition not to communicate and to have no contact could be superseded simply by your lawyers’ presence," Harris said..Harris said Lich's decision to attend an event that celebrated the Freedom Conoy, which "placed downtown citizens of the city of Ottawa in a state of fear," was "problematic." Lich's choice to meet with Marazzo at the gala added "fuel to the fire," according to Harris, and showed she is "not prepared to follow court orders." While Freedom Convoy protests have ended, Harris said freedom protests continue across the Canada, and Lich’s involvement continues to pose a risk to the safety of the public. . Harris noted that Lich's breach could result in a maximum sentence of 10 years, similar to the sentence for assault with a weapon. "This comparison speaks to the elevated gravity of the alleged offences before the court.".Lich's next court appearance is scheduled for July 14 via video.
