Crown won’t pursue charges against 14 pipeline opponents from Wet’suwet’en blockade

A lack of evidence will deter the BC prosecution service from pursuing charges of criminal contempt against 14 people who were arrested at the pipeline blockade located on traditional Wet’suwet’en First Nation’s territory in January.

The demonstrators were arrested on Jan. 7 during an RCMP enforced interim court injunction against protestors which interfere with the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline project, outlined as anyone “occupying obstructing, blocking, physically impeding or delaying access" of the area around Morice River Bridge and Morice West Forest Service Road.

After a review of the cases, the prosecution service says the amount of evidence was not satisfactory for a substantial likelihood of conviction.

In the statement, Crown counsel Trevor Shaw says the decision not to pursue the charges relates to whether information was available on the injunction.

“One element of criminal contempt relates to knowledge (whether direct, inferred or otherwise) of the terms of the injunction,” he said.

“After a review of the evidence at this point, the BCPS is not satisfied that there is the necessary evidentiary basis for a substantial likelihood of conviction."

However, prosecution services will pursue charges against one of the 14 individuals who was arrested for assaulting a police officer with a weapon.

According to the company, it has signed agreements with all 20 elected First Nation governments along the pipeline path.

Some members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation have argued that without the consent of the hereditary chiefs the agreements are improper and have no jurisdiction over land usage.

Coastal GasLink’s project is anticipated to measure in at 670 kilometres in length between the Dawson Creek area and the proposed LNG Canada facility near Kitimat.