Lich, Barber to receive verdict Thursday in Canada’s longest mischief trial

Lich, Barber arrive in Ottawa for closing arguments of mischief trial, both face 10 years in prisonChris Barber/Twitter

Published on:

02 Apr 2025, 5:52 pm

Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber will finally receive a verdict on Thursday, after what The Democracy Fund (TDF) lawyers call the “longest mischief trial” in Canadian history.

Lich says feds have spent $5 million to prosecute her for mischief

"Ottawa Prison Blues"

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber will be back in Ottawa court on Thursday for the decision in the longest Mischief trial in Canadian history. @rightblend and I will be there to provide you with full coverage from inside and outside the Ottawa Courthouse. pic.twitter.com/qO3VJfruKj
— Dacey Media (@chrisdacey) April 1, 2025

The trial began September 5, 2023 and continued for over a year. Justice Heather Perkins-McVey in August 2024 commented on significant court backlog and said the verdict could be delayed. She promised to set a date in November 2024, which was pushed back to March 12 2025, and finally to April 3, 2025.

Lich, Barber trial wraps up, judge to give update in November on when verdict will be reached

some out of province folk plan to drive down for Chris Barber and Tanara Lich coming up this has potential to be more of a shit show court house than pat king 🇨🇦🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/SeRtMnLImU
— LadySquibbles16*DONNA MARTIN GRADUATES (@LadySquibbles16) March 27, 2025

Lich and Barber face charges of mischief, obstruction, intimidation and counselling others to do the same during the February 2022 protest against COVID-19 mandates in Ottawa.

Crown prosecutors Tim Radcliffe and Siobhan Wetscher are asking for the maximum penalty for mischief, 10 years in prison.

They are also pursuing the Carter Application, a conspiracy charge where one defendant is charged for the other’s words and actions, and vice versa.

Lich, Barber taken to task on plural pronouns as Crown pursues Carter conspiracy, both face 10 years in prison

Chrystia Freeland and a "Private Stakeholder" discussed securing the Canadian borders and mobilizing CFA troops against Tamara Lich, Chris Barber, and other members of the Freedom Convoy for exercising their right to assemble and peacefully protest.https://t.co/d7jzv9acuI pic.twitter.com/1SdVDerkUl
— prin-prin (@Blackofhearts92) March 27, 2025

Lich earlier called the most recent postponement of the verdict hearing “unfortunate” in an X post, and decried the “sad state of the justice system in Canada.”

Judge dismisses Lich, Barber’s move to throw out conspiracy application

The Democracy Fund