Charges dismissed against pair accused of harassing N.S. medical officer during COVID
A Nova Scotia judge has dismissed charges against two people accused of harassing the province's chief medical officer during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the case took too long to get to trial.
On March 23, 2022, police said an investigation into protests against COVID-19 restrictions outside the home of Dr. Robert Strang led to charges of criminal harassment against Jeremy MacKenzie and Morgan Guptill.
MacKenzie, founder of the far-right online group Diagolon, and Guptill were also charged with intimidation of a health professional, mischief and making harassing phone calls.
At the time, the Mounties alleged the pair had staged protests over three days on the street where Strang lived in Fall River, N.S., east of Halifax. Published reports showed a handful of people with placards gathered on the street to oppose COVID-19 health protection measures that were still in place at the time.
MacKenzie and Guptill were scheduled to go on trial next week, but provincial court Judge Jill Hartlen decided Wednesday that the case had dragged on for too long.
In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that most criminal trials must finish within 18 months after a person is charged, and Hartlen decided there had been 19 months of waiting, once delays caused by the defence were considered.
The RCMP have called Diagolon a militia-like network with members who are "armed and preparing for violence." And last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons that Diagolon was a violent, extremist, white nationalist organization.
MacKenzie, who describes himself as the "Raging Dissident," has denied allegations of extremism, saying many of his supporters are firearms enthusiasts who do not belong to any kind of militia. Court documents say he is a 14-year military veteran who served in Afghanistan.
As for Diagolon, MacKenzie says it is his notion of a country that will one day include provinces and U.S. states aligned in a diagonal fashion between Alaska and Florida. MacKenzie has also created a flag for his imaginary country, which features a white diagonal line against a black background.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2024.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Rescuers race to free people trapped by Hurricane Helene after storm kills at least 40 in 4 states
Hurricane Helene left an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the entire southeastern U.S. on Friday, killing at least 40 people in four states, snapping towering oaks like twigs, tearing apart homes and sending rescue crews on desperate missions to save people from floodwaters.
U.S. fines Air Canada over flights over prohibited Iraqi airspace
The U.S. Department of Transportation said Friday it had fined Air Canada US$250,000 for operating flights in 2022 and 2023 in prohibited Iraqi airspace.
Ship, extra CAF members deployed near Lebanon in case of evacuation needs: defence minister
Defence Minister Bill Blair says there is a ship in place near Lebanon, as well as 150 deployed additional Canadian Armed Forces members prepared for a military-assisted departure of stranded Canadians, if more violence in the region requires it.
BREAKING Israeli airstrikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut after another strike destroyed buildings
The Israeli military struck Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut on Friday in a series of massive explosions that targeted the leader of the militant group and levelled multiple high-rise apartment buildings.
Killer who stabbed victim 'at least 52 times' dies in B.C. prison
A 72-year-old inmate serving a life sentence for a brutal murder that happened in Chilliwack in 2016 has died, according to the Correctional Service of Canada.
P.E.I. shellfish festival gastrointestinal illness outbreak largest in province's history: health officer
More than 550 symptomatic people responded to an online questionnaire about a gastrointestinal illness at a Prince Edward Island shellfish festival last weekend.
Former military reservist sentenced for shotgun video calling Liberal MP a 'communist agent' for China
A former Canadian military reservist has been sentenced to house arrest after posting a video of himself firing a shotgun at a picture of a member of Parliament whom he accused of being a "communist agent" for China.
Canada booking seats on flights out of Lebanon as violence escalates
Global Affairs Canada began booking blocks of seats on the few remaining commercial flights leaving Lebanon on Friday as it issued another urgent plea for any Canadians in the country to leave immediately.
Family of man who died in incident involving Calgary police issues statement
The family of Jon Wells, a man who died in an incident involving Calgary police earlier this month, say they are seeking time to grieve their loss.