December 18, 2019

Trivial Trespass Trial

There were to be two trials held on 12 December 2019 in Jasper where Monika Schaefer (this author) had being charged. The first matter came under the Criminal Code of Canada (CC) “causing a disturbance”, and the second was for a voluntary payment violation ticket for trespassing, which we opted to contest.

As seems to be common, the court list was very long. Court began at 10 am, the public gallery was full, and down the list they went. It was just after 4 pm when my name was finally called. Frank Frost, my representative, and I stepped forward. I half expected them to reschedule both matters. However the judge explained that both matters could not be tried on the same day, as one was federal and the other provincial, and so it was suggested we go ahead with the provincial matter. Both sides agreed. Thirty minutes had originally been scheduled for the trespassing charge, whereas two hours had been set for the CC charge.

Judge Shaigec apologized to Mychol Ormandy, the complainant of the disturbance charge, for having had to spend all day for naught. Ormandy and his witnesses were formally dismissed, but were free to remain as spectators – which they did.

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