In order to build his case, a man who is representing himself and whose pretrial proceedings have been marked by resistance and bluster will be granted the use of internet in the Okanagan Correctional Centre, where he鈥檚 being held.
Alex Louie was this year after allegedly attempting to smuggle two handguns into the country. The Canadian Border Security Agency said border agents found a pair of Hi-Point CF-380 handguns in his vehicle, despite his claim that he had no weapons at the border crossing.
Since his arrest Louie has been in custody, with court appearances marked by verbal attempts to arrest the judge and Crown lawyers for the 鈥渃ultural genocide of (his) people,鈥� a tune Louie continued to hum during a Monday morning scheduling hearing.
鈥淲e鈥檙e dealing with eight counts, here, an eight-count indictment dealing with importing鈥斺�� Justice Gary Weatherill began while Louie cited 鈥渢he theft of land鈥� of First Nations people, among other issues.
鈥淚鈥檓 here to deal with you, and I鈥檓 here to deal with the Crown when it comes to subject matter jurisdiction of the assumed trust relationship that you guys continue to assume, this de facto relationship,鈥� Louie rebutted.
鈥淵ou need to understand where your jurisdiction comes from. It comes from the enforced registration of a person in the name of Alex Louie, which is based on cultural genocide of a people.鈥�
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Louie is to undergo trial for two counts each of the unauthorized import of firearms, exchanging, selling or purchasing illegally imported goods, smuggling goods into Canada and possessing firearms without a licence or registration, along with one count of a false or deceptive statement on the import of goods.
Representing himself, Louie told the court that he had some documents he wished to provide the judge and Crown counsel, noting that without access to the internet, he has been impeded in his access to resources. Holding up inch-thick stacks of papers for the judge, the Crown and himself, he said he was also forced to handwrite each of his submissions.
鈥淭his is four or five months of writing. I have to write it three times, and I have to do drafts, so I have to write it 鈥� four or five times before and end product comes out,鈥� Louie said. 鈥淭he unfortunate reality is I don鈥檛 have the access like you guys have. You guys have all the law libraries, all the annotated versions of courtroom procedures.鈥�
Weatherill asked Louie if he had access to legal aid, but Louie said he didn鈥檛 need it.
鈥淲hen it comes to legal aid, there again, the oath that you guys swear, you guys don鈥檛 work for us. You do not protect our interest,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 need help; I need access.鈥�
Louie told the court he had asked 鈥渙n numerous occasions鈥� for access to the Internet but said he has been denied that access. Weatherill said he believed the OCC, 鈥渁 brand new facility,鈥� should have access to the internet.
鈥淚鈥檝e made the order that you鈥檙e entitled to have access to the internet for that purpose, for the purpose of defending yourself in this case,鈥� Weatherill said. 鈥淵ou should be able to get that information you seek within reason to defend these charges.鈥�
The fix-date hearing for Louie was put off until Tuesday morning, with Crown counsel pushing for a late-August trial date. The trial is expected to run four to five days.
