UPDATED: Coutts Trio member says he's been banned from Coutts Four court hearings
Van Huigenbos said he has been banned from attending court proceedings into the Coutts Four case.
“They can ban me from the courtroom, but they will have to lock me away to shut me up," tweeted Van Huigenbos on Wednesday.
The Coutts Four consists of Anthony Olienick, Chris Carbert, Christopher Lysak, and Jerry Morin. They were charged with conspiracy to commit murder of RCMP officers.
The Coutts Trio pertains to Van Huigenbos, George Janzen and Alex Van Herk. They have been charged with mischief over $5,000.
Van Huigenbos said his ban happened because of tweets he made about activities going on during pre-trial hearings, particularly around Ontario Tech University (OTU) Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism Director Barbara Perry being considered as an expert witness.
“I felt this had to become public and made a conscious decision — not 100% sure I was breaking the ban — but knowing that there could be consequences,” he said.
“But you got to understand publication bans are automatic for pre-trial applications.”
The Coutts Four proceedings have dragged on for more than two years. Due to the length of the pre-trial, he said it has been convenient for the Crown to bring motions that will never see the light of day.
Lysak and Morin accepted a plea deal in their conspiracy to commit murder case on February 6.
READ MORE: UPDATED: Two Coutts Four members agree to plea deal
Trial attendees said the conspiracy to commit murder charges brought against Lysak and Morin were dropped and that they would be set free.
On the other hand, Olieneck had a new lawyer, which delayed his trial until February 20.
Van Huigenbos said on Friday Crown attorneys have requested Perry testify in the Coutts trials.
READ MORE: Alberta Justice recruits ‘right wing extremism’ expert for Coutts cases
“Today, under oath, she testified that she believes most right-wing extremists are WHITE, CHRISTIAN, and MALES!” he said.
Perry has studied right-wing extremism. Alberta Justice said it wanted
to make Perry an expert witness for the Coutts Four and maybe for the
Coutts Trio.
Alberta Justice recruits ‘right wing extremism’ expert for Coutts cases
Coutts Trio member Marco Van Huigenbos said Crown attorneys have requested Ontario Tech University (OTU) Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism Director Barbara Perry testify in the Coutts trials.
“Today, under oath, she testified that she believes most right-wing extremists are WHITE, CHRISTIAN, and MALES!” tweeted Van Huigenbos.
Perry has studied right-wing extremism. Alberta Justice said it wanted to make Perry an expert witness for the Coutts Four and maybe for the Coutts Trio.
The Coutts Four consists of Anthony Olienick, Chris Carbert, Christopher Lysak, and Jerry Morin. They were charged with conspiracy to commit murder of RCMP officers.
The Coutts Trio pertains to Van Huigenbos, George Janzen and Alex Van Herk. They have been charged with mischief over $5,000.
If it uses experts with a radical worldview, Van Huigenbos said it “can create very concerning case law.” While this tweet could land him in some hot water, he said the truth of this matter “needs to see the light of day.”
“Justice [David] Labrenz must throw out any attempt to legitimize this disgusting, radical racist!” he said.
“Her opinion has no place in Alberta courts.”
Perry refused to provide a list of 300 right-wing extremist groups operating in Canada she had compiled when asked for them in 2021.
She said she would not be releasing the information for at least another few months, despite her sitting on the list for two years.
When asked why, she explained releasing the list would not make sense unless the data were couched within a larger published report such as one she had been planning.
OTU used a provision of the Privacy Act in 2023 to prevent the release of a list of the 300 far-right extremist groups operating in Canada, which has been cited by the federal government to bolster anti-hate legislation.
OTU administrators cited certain exceptions which bar the release of records “associated with research conducted or proposed by an employee of an educational institution or by a person associated with an educational institution.”
“The request in this case is for specific details regarding methodology of the research project, as well as the data obtained through research which clearly meets and exceeds the threshold for exclusion from FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act),” said the OTU registrar.
Lysak and Morin accepted a plea deal in their conspiracy to commit murder case on February 6.