Trial of the “Freedom Convoy”: the mayor’s chief of staff will speak before a two-week break

Former Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson’s chief of staff is expected to continue his testimony Friday in the trial of two organizers of the “Freedom Convoy” protest before the court takes a two-week recess.

Serge Arpin was part of the mayor’s deal with convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber to move trucks off residential streets last year.

Arpin and the mayor hoped the deal would allow some 400 trucks to leave residential neighborhoods and hit the streets along Parliament Hill as the protest lasted for weeks.

Lich and Barber are on trial for alleged misdeeds and counseling others to commit mischief, intimidation and other offenses during the protest.

Friday was initially supposed to be the last day for the Crown to present its case against them, but legal arguments and other delays have put the court well behind schedule, and Arpin is only the fourth of 22 Crown witnesses expected to testify .

The court is seeking more dates to complete the Crown’s case and allow time for more legal arguments at the end of the trial.