Jurors will hear final evidence in the trial of three men charged after the Coates blockade

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. –

Closing arguments are scheduled today for three men accused of orchestrating a border shutdown in Coates, Alta., in early 2022.

Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huygenbos and Gerhard Jantzen pleaded not guilty to charges of mischief over $5,000.

The Crown presented evidence that the trio led a protest that tied up cross-border traffic between Alberta and Montana for two weeks in early 2022 in protest of COVID-era regulations and restrictions.

The Crown says the case is not about COVID-19 or freedom of speech, but that people can't decide on their own to shut down a major transportation portal.

The defense argued that the protest group was made up of competing interests and that the identity of the shooters was unknown.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations after receiving instructions from the judge.

This Canadian Press report was first published on April 16, 2024.