Charles hackland biography

Pat King, one of the lead organizers of the convoy that gridlocked downtown Ottawa in the winter of 2022, has been found guilty of five of the nine charges against him.

Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland read his verdict Friday to a courtroom that was full to bursting, with so many of King’s supporters attending that the jury booth was converted to overflow seating.

Justice Hackland ruled there was “overwhelming evidence” that King intended to “effect an occupation,” and later said that he “took delight in creating as much distress as possible.”

At issue during King’s lengthy trial was the extent of his involvement in the protests, where supporters from across Canada converged in Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates.

The charges stemmed from accusations that he was one of the lead organizers of the blockade, which choked off parts of the downtown core fo