CALGARY 鈥� Crown prosecutors in Alberta have given notice they plan to appeal the not-guilty verdicts given to two men arrested at the 2022 blockade at Coutts, Alta.
Michelle Davio, with Alberta Justice, says a final decision on launching the appeal has not been made in the case of Anthony Olienick and Chris Carbert.
But Davio says there鈥檚 a time limit on filing a motion to appeal and says prosecutors want to keep their options open.
Earlier this month, a Lethbridge jury found Olienick and Carbert not guilty of conspiracy to murder police officers.
However, the two men were convicted of mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose while Olienick was found guilty of possessing a pipe bomb.
Both men are to face sentencing next week.
Davio, in a statement Tuesday, said prosecutors are still weighing whether to appeal.
"A thorough review of the evidence and rulings by the trial judge will be completed and then a final decision as to whether to proceed with the appeal will be made,鈥� Davio wrote.
"This (motion to appeal) will preserve the (prosecution service's) ability to proceed with an appeal once sentencing is completed.鈥�
Olienick and Carbert were convicted over their actions at the U.S.-Alberta border crossing near Coutts.
The blockade tied up traffic for two weeks in early 2022 to protest COVID restrictions, including vaccine mandates for truckers.
Arrests were made after a cache of weapons, ammunition and body armour was found in the community.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2024.
The Canadian Press
