Canada

The trial for two central figures in the Freedom Convoy will continue Tuesday with defence lawyers challenging the prosecution's portrayal of the three-week Ottawa protest as a single event under the sole direction of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.

The two have pleaded not guilty to charges of mischief, intimidation, obstruction and other offences related to the February 2022 protests against COVID-19 mandates that saw trucks block downtown streets in Ottawa's core.

At issue is whether Barber and Lich crossed the line into committing crimes and encouraged others to come to the city.

Prosecutors are attempting to link Lich and Barber as co-conspirators who worked together to finance, fuel, promote and organize the Freedom Convoy, asserting evidence against one should apply to the other.