The credibility of the lead defendant in a case that involves the rights and responsibilities of protesters was challenged yesterday.
During his testimony, activist Jaggi Singh described his role in a demonstration Oct. 23, 2000, outside a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Montreal as one of many organizers of the event, but definitely not as a leader.
He repeatedly told the jury that at no time did he use a public address system to advise protesters that lawyers were available should they be arrested.
Prosecutor Kathleen Caron zeroed in on that in cross-examining Singh. "Are you sure of that?" she asked.
"I am definitely sure of that. I remember what I said," Singh replied.
Caron then referred to a transcript of Singh's testimony at a bail hearing Oct. 25, 2000, in which he described taking a megaphone and addressing protesters after things turned ugly and police used pepper spray.
Singh was quoted as saying that although he didn't want to give orders, he had something to say. "I was very clear about a few things. I told people if they are arrested there are lawyers available. I told people if you happen to be pepper sprayed, yell 'medic' and people will provide you with medical aid," Singh said in 2000.
This, alleged to be a sign of his leadership, is near the heart of the prosecution's allegations that Singh was a leader of a demonstration that became a riot. Singh and two other protesters, Christina Xydous and Jonathan Aspireault-Massé, have pleaded not guilty to participating in a riot.
In addressing several contradictions in his testimony given in 2000 and 2002, Singh offered an array of explanations. The bail hearing followed two days in jail. He was "upset" and "under the gun" about being linked to masked protesters with baseball bats, charges that could get him sentenced to two years in jail.
The "issue" at that time was to convince the judge that he was non-violent and could be released on bail pending trial. Singh added that, in 2000, he summed up in about 15 minutes what took him about a day to explain to the jury.
Earlier, the court was told that the protest and earlier events to inform people about the G20 were planned at meetings involving various groups. A variety of fliers were handed out at the event including one about protesters' legal rights.
In response to questions raised by a juror, Singh said organizers didn't arrange for security, relying on people to "regulate themselves." If problems arose, "we'd prevail upon reasonable, cooler heads to do the right things."
The trial is to resume Tuesday.
lmoore@thegazette.canwest.com
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