The legal charges in opposition to former Ontario legislator Randy Hillier associated to his participation within the “Freedom Convoy” protest have been stayed after a choose dominated his case had taken too lengthy.
Hillier was charged in March 2022 with 9 offences linked to his function within the demonstrations early that yr, during which protesters gridlocked downtown Ottawa in protest of COVID-19 pandemic measures and the federal authorities.
The fees embrace assaulting a peace officer, mischief, counselling others to commit mischief and resisting or obstructing a peace officer. The assault cost stemmed from allegations that Hillier pushed a metallic gate into an officer whereas making an attempt to enter Parliament Hill.
Hillier, who represented an Ottawa-area driving within the provincial legislature from 2007 to 2022, selected to be tried earlier than a choose and jury in Ontario Superior Court docket, and a four-week trial was set to start in January.
The Supreme Court docket of Canada has set obligatory cut-off dates for courtroom circumstances, with a 30-month cap for these being heard in Superior Court docket.
In a ruling launched Thursday, Superior Court docket Justice Kerry McVey discovered the case had gone over the utmost threshold, spanning 31 months and 13 days after deducting delays attributable to the defence and distinctive circumstances.
Hillier, who represented himself after parting methods along with his lawyer final yr, welcomed the choice Friday, saying the courtroom case and looming trial had induced “significant amounts of stress” and mounting monetary stress.
The circumstances of his bail had additionally restricted what he might say on social media and required that he give police advance discover of any journey to Ottawa, he mentioned.
Hillier mentioned he deliberate to rejoice the end result of the case with household and pals over the weekend.
