Accused in Coutts blockade trial testifies he feared food shortages, questioned COVID-19 vaccine

One of 2 men accused of colluding to termination constabulary astatine nan separator blockade astatine Coutts, Alta., says he was worried astir authorities overreach, nutrient shortages and nan COVID-19 vaccine.

Chris Carbert began testifying successful his ain defence Thursday astatine nan murder-conspiracy proceedings successful Lethbridge.

He and Anthony Olienick are some charged pinch conspiracy to perpetrate execution astatine nan blockade, which tied up postulation for 2 weeks astatine nan engaged Canada-U.S. separator crossing successful a protestation complete COVID-19 rules.

Carbert told nan assemblage that he didn’t spot nan COVID-19 vaccine for him aliases his son.

“By nan autumn of 2021 what opinions, if any, had you formed successful narration to whether aliases not you would return nan vaccine?” asked his lawyer Katherin Beyak.

“There was nary measurement I was taking it because I didn’t spot it. It was a caller vaccine. Standard vaccines, they usually return 7 to 10 years to travel to wherever they fig retired if they’re safe and effective, and wrong a twelvemonth of brand-new exertion they wanted you to put it wrong your body,” said Carbert.

“Not happening.”

Carbert, 47, was besides concerned astir nan authorities introducing nan request for vaccine passports particularly erstwhile it would impact truckers because of nan effect connected nan nutrient chain.

“The measurement my mind thinks is if you person problems pinch nan nutrient concatenation (and) they were already benignant of difficult connected nan unvaccinated … we were decidedly going to beryllium nan past group to beryllium capable to person immoderate of that nutrient if we’re having shortages,” he said.

“They only respected nan group who took nan vaccine and nan group who were coerced to return nan vaccination.”

Carbert said he and a number of others decided to spell to Coutts successful a show of support.

“I felt that it was important. To maine this was a bully connection to make,” he said.

“What connection were you trying to make?” Beyak asked.

“Telling nan authorities that we’ve had enough.”

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Carbert said he met Olienick arsenic portion of a group of “preppers,” sharing accusation connected really to hole for emergencies and earthy disasters.

He was asked if he had immoderate firearms.

“Lots of ’em,” he replied.

Carbert testified he was sick for overmuch of his clip while successful Coutts and didn’t often spot Olienick contempt sharing a trailer.

He said he was successful nan trailer erstwhile personification told him location were arrests. Carbert said he looked for accusation online but did nothing.

“I conscionable sat there. I fell asleep,” he said.

“What woke you up?”

“The large horn that was hailing for group to travel outside.”

Carbert said he talked to a lawyer earlier doing anything.

“Because I was panicking obviously. I went out. Then I locked my trailer,” he said.

“I was arrested.”