Conspiracy leader accused of incitement to hatred after allegedly instigating his Facebook followers to create “organized militia” to spray police officers with pepper spray insists on being tried by jury, even though he faces a lesser sentence in a summary trial requested by the crown.
Last March, Jonathan Blanchette, known on social networks under the pseudonym Jo Indigo, was arrested after posting a video on Facebook in which he suggested creating a group of “sentries” made up of ” [mâles] alpha who are not afraid ”in order to neutralize the police officers who supervised the demonstrations against health measures.
“I would like to remind you that everyone has the right to buy cayenne pepper for bears or to have a [pistolet à décharge électrique] Taser, ”he said. He then suggested spraying police helmets with it. “They’re going to be full of cayenne pepper and they won’t be able to do anything.” ”
“Do you think the police can stop an organized militia?” He added.
Representing himself alone, Jonathan Blanchette appeared Tuesday before Judge Richard Marleau, of the Court of Quebec, affirming that the charges of incitement to hatred against peace officers filed against him are “not credible”. He demanded to stand trial immediately. “I can not wait to put an end to this circus,” he told the judge, boasting of having won eight cases by representing himself, and that he intended to win this one quickly.
About an hour later, he appeared in court again, this time complaining that the summary trial requested by the Crown was not satisfactory to him.
The accused insisted: since his first appearance, he claims to defend himself before a judge and jury rather than before a judge alone. “In fact, the gentleman incurs a less severe sentence by summary conviction,” pleaded Crown counsel, Me Émilie Gadbois.
But according to Mr. Blanchette, the fact that the Crown withdraws the criminal charges to replace them with summary charges of less seriousness cancels de facto the conditions of release which followed his arrest “and I must be compensated for my detention”, a- he argued. “I do not know if it is I who is mad, but I have suffered an injury,” said Mr. Blanchette.
“Those are your claims,” Judge Marleau replied, stressing to him on more than one occasion that he would not tolerate being constantly cut off by the accused or disrespectful behavior or inappropriate language on his part. in his court room. “I suffer from verbal logorrhea,” replied the accused. Please don’t take it for disrespect, it’s part of my psychological pattern. ”
From the movement of sovereign citizens, Jonathan Blanchette has broadcast since the start of the pandemic several videos, often seen by tens of thousands of people, where he interprets the law in a very creative way, without having the skills. He also made a video in which he claims, by running water on a ball, to demonstrate that the earth is not round. His Facebook account also featured the logo of the Three Percenters (III%), a far-right American pro-arms militia.
The rest of his trial has been postponed until January. Mr. Blanchette will then be able to officially make a request to have his trial by jury.