Protester Pat King Faces Two New Charges, Bail Review Rescheduled After Lawyer’s Computer Hacked

Protesters seen during the Freedom Convoy demonstrations against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions in the Parliament Hill area in downtown Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

A high-profile protester during the Freedom Convoy demonstrations faces two new charges, a day after his bail review was abruptly halted after his lawyer’s computer was allegedly hacked on April 13.

Pat King appeared at the Ontario Superior Court on April 13 for his bail hearing after his lawyer requested a review of the court’s original decision to keep him in jail until his trial.

His lawyer, David Goodman, was appearing virtually in court when a robotic female voice started speaking from his computer, warning him not to turn off or restart his computer because his IP address had been accessed.

The Crown later said that Goodman’s client files appeared to have been compromised, though the lawyer said on April 14 that nothing had been corrupted.

It’s unclear if the attack has any relation to King’s case.

The details of the hacking were protected by a publication ban ordered by Justice Graeme Mew, who lifted the order on April 14 morning after hearing arguments from a lawyer representing several media outlets.

The rest of the evidence and testimony from court on April 13 still cannot be shared.

King, who has remained in the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre since his arrest on Feb. 18, faces 10 charges related to his involvement in the Freedom Convoy protests, including mischief, intimidation, obstructing police, and disobeying a court order.

On April 14, the Crown announced it would lay new charges against him: perjury and obstruction of justice.

Those charges are expected to be laid later this afternoon, while King’s bail hearing will be rescheduled to a later date.

The three-week Freedom Convoy demonstration in Ottawa initially began as a protest against a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate introduced in mid-January for truck drivers returning to Canada from the United States. As convoys of trucks arrived at the national capital on Jan. 29, the protests evolved into a national movement with many joining to call for an end to all other pandemic-related restrictions.

Despite being a visible figure, King isn’t one of the Freedom Convoy organizers, according to a lawyer from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which represents several of the convoy leaders.

A key convoy leader, Tamara Lich, was released on bail on March 7 with a $25,000 bond following a decision from Ontario Superior Court Justice John Johnston. She must also follow other bail conditions, including avoiding all contact with fellow convoy organizers and refraining from using social media or having someone do so on her behalf.

Lich has announced her intention to challenge these bail conditions and has recently hired high-profile criminal lawyer Lawrence Greenspon as her legal representation.

King’s supporters appear to be chipping in to help fund any bond that may be required for his potential release, while people claiming to be his friends and family have continued to operate his Facebook page, The Real Pat King, while he remains in custody, according to a post from March 18.

The operators of the fund are collecting donations from supporters to fund King’s legal defence.

“Pat King requires our support from his friends and family to help cover his legal expenses so he can seek a release on bail then begin to prepare for his trial. The amount to cover the bail review and trial is estimated to exceed over $100,000,” the post stated.

The page claims to have raised $62,400, though it cannot be verified as the donations were made by e-transfer directly to a private email address.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.