A defiant self-proclaimed "Queen of Canada" remains in custody over the weekend after her first appearance in Swift Current Provincial Court.
"Remember, innocent until proven guilty," Romana Didulo told the assembled crowd as she was led into the courtroom on Friday morning. "False accusation of possession of weapons. False accusation of trying to intimidate the justice system."
Judge Alan Jacobson spent 45 minutes patiently explaining the proceedings to Didulo despite her consistent interruptions.
The leader of the "Kingdom of Canada" group that has occupied the former Richmound School since November 2023, repeatedly told Jacobson she would not consent to any court proceedings unless they were under natural law.
"I move this case be dismissed in absolute," she told the court on a number of occasions.
Jacobson asked her not to interrupt and urged Didulo to consider retaining a lawyer.
"The offer of a lawyer invalidates and inverts my right under natural law," she replied.
As Jacobson asked if Didulo understood the charges against her, she used it as an opportunity to decry the legitimacy of the court and what she perceives as a lack of evidence against her.
The judge had to remind Didulo that they were only deciding on the status of a bail hearing at this time.
Regional Crown Prosecutor Curtis Wiebe noted they are opposed to Didulo's release before trial and requested an adjournment until Monday in order to gather evidence from multiple departments of the RCMP.
Didulo chose to remain in custody in Swift Current rather than Regina to be closer to international guests visiting her in Richmound and appear in person at her bail hearing on Monday at 9 a.m.
She again requested and was denied her release to obtain computer equipment so that she could review the disclosure.
"I want this to sink in," Judge Jacobson said. "You're not going to be released today."
Didulo was led away from court in cuffs and continued her demands.
"I requested under natural law court only," Didulo said. "Did not give consent to statutory law court."
She was arrested by Saskatchewan RCMP on Wednesday during a raid of the former Richmound School, and re-arrested on Thursday.
Didulo is charged with failing to comply with the undertaking condition, and with intimidation of four justice system participants, including Richmound Mayor Brad Miller.
MANZ BAIL HEARING ALSO ADJOURNED
The owner of the former Richmound School had a similar appearance in Swift Current Provincial Court after Didulo.
Ricky Manz faces the same charges as the woman he calls "Queen Romana" and seven additional charges stemming from incidents on July 18.
They include three counts of assault, one count of resisting arrest, one count of mischief for damaging a police radio, one count of uttering a threat, and one count of obstructing an employee of a municipality.
Manz is also charged with an August 31 breach of an undertaking not to communicate with four individuals from Richmound.
After the Crown stated its opposition to his release, the 61-year-old Manz pointed out that he has no violent criminal history.
"I did none of these things," Manz said. "It's all on video and audio. I did not assault anyone. I was assaulted myself."
He emphasized all his ties to Richmound as reasons he wouldn't flee.
His bail hearing was also adjourned until Monday morning at the Crown's request.
Manz used his time in court to argue he never breached his undertaking condition of not contacting Didulo, but instead spoke to a man at the school who ensured Didulo was not in "her office" when Manz was dropping off tools.
He also claimed that his August 31 charge for breaking conditions was actually the result of a claim he submitted to some type of natural law tribunal in front of "seven sages" across Canada.
Manz claimed it was they who passed along his statement to the four individuals he wasn't supposed to contact.
Judge Jacobson appeared to convince Manz it was important to consult with a lawyer.
He has been remanded into custody in Regina and will likely appear by CCTV on Monday morning.