Anti-TMX Land Defenders’ Appeal Dismissed, Court Finds Judge ‘Did Not Err’ in Trial - The Turtle Island News

Anti-TMX land defenders’ appeal dismissed, court finds judge ‘did not err’ in trial - The Turtle Island News

By Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, IndigiNews Three land defenders convicted in 2023 for their opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) in Secwépemcúl’ecw have been denied a retrial, but say they intend to further escalate their appeal. On Friday, the provincial Court of Appeal dismissed attempts to overturn criminal contempt sentences for Secwépemc land defender April Thomas, Nlaka’pamux land defender Red De…

Anti-TMX land defenders’ appeal dismissed, court finds judge ‘did not err’ in trial

Secwépemc Matriarch April Thomas, left, and Red Deer Billie Pierre of Nlaka’pamux Nation, conduct a livestream outside of the Kamloops Law Courts building in Tk’emlúps (Kamloops) on May 1, 2023, ahead of the first day of their sentencing hearing. The two were arrested and charged with criminal contempt for breaching a Trans Mountain Pipeline injunction-protected construction area in Secwepemcúl’ecw in October 2020. Photo by Aaron Hemens Three la…