Of the 303 people who appeared in court Monday, some had their charges dropped, others were given another date to return, and most people were left frustrated and confused by the ordeal.
Those who had travelled from Quebec lamented losing a day’s wages to appear at a hearing that lasted only a few seconds; others decried the fact that the Crown has not yet disclosed the evidence against them.
Here are three stories from one of the largest mass court appearances in Canada’s history.
Brett Gundlock, 24 – Charges of unlawful assembly and obstructing a peace officer dropped
Gundlock, a National Post photographer, was arrested with a colleague at Queen’s Park the Saturday afternoon of G20 weekend. “I'd been photographing all day,” Gundlock said of his arrest. When police started firing pepper spray at the crowd and making arrests, Gundlock said he put his gas mask on and watched as a line of riot police separated. “That’s when six cops were coming at me like linebackers.” Gundlock said he raised his press pass in the air, but the officers were already tackling him to the ground. The photographer said he is happy to have the ordeal behind him. “The police failed, their charges aren't sticking,” he said of his one-minute hearing.
Mathieu Melançon, 21 — Hearing on charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence put over until Oct. 14
After travelling to Toronto from Montreal, Melançon, 21, had his hearing put over to Oct. 14 after standing before a judge for less than a minute. “Nothing happened. We just stand in front of judge with our co-accused. They only asked us our names, and then they said, ‘We will see you again on Oct. 14.’ ” Melançon, who was arrested with dozens of others when police raided the University of Toronto early on the Sunday morning of the G20, was detained for three days. He said he is still waiting to receive disclosure in his case. “I would appreciate to know what I’m supposed to have been conspiring against.”
Jaggi Singh — One of 17 alleged ringleaders, still facing charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
Singh, a prominent activist from Montreal, is one of 17 accused G20 ringleaders. He voluntarily turned himself in to police days after the summit when he heard there was warrant for his arrest. Peter Rosenthal, Singh’s lawyer, said he objected in court to the fact that the Crown has yet to provide any disclosure in the case against the 17 accused ringleaders, whose hearings were all put over to Sept. 27. “We need (disclosure) to prepare a bail review,” Rosenthal said, citing the condition that prevents Singh from organizing or participating in any demonstration, which Rosenthal said prevents him from doing his job at the Quebec Public Interest Research Group. “We feel that it is essential that he be allowed to continue that good work pending trial.” Singh turned himself in to police days after the summit when he learned there was a warrant for his arrest.
