The Crown prosecutor in the Romana Didulo case is comfortable with the self-proclaimed "Queen of Canada" being released with conditions.
While Curtis Wiebe opposed Didulo's release, he understood Judge Alan Jacobson's ruling.
"I think the judge did a good job of going through the different issues and determining what type of conditions would be necessary," Wiebe said. "Also, very importantly to this case, whether she would be willing to abide by those conditions."
Judge Jacobson and Wiebe were concerned about Didulo's consistent objection to the court's jurisdiction and statements that she would only accept the court's conditions "under duress."
The judge insisted that Didulo use the term “reluctantly agree” instead when referring to the release conditions.
"I thought it was a very thoughtful decision," Wiebe said of the judge's ruling. "Of course, we were looking that she be detained, but part of our concern was her willingness or unwillingness to abide by conditions, and I think that was fairly addressed by the court."
Romana Didulo leaving court after her release. (Photo by Shawn Mullin)
Romana Didulo leaving court after her release. (Photo by Shawn Mullin)
Didulo must now reside with one of her "Kingdom of Canada" associates in Regina.
She is not able to leave the property without permission from her parole officer, must stay at least 50 kilometers away from the Town of Richmound, and is not to contact or refer online to any people named in the charges against her.
They include "Kingdom of Canada" member Ricky Manz, Richmound Mayor Brad Miller, other local Richmound officials, and an RCMP officer.
Manz and Didulo are both facing charges of failing to comply with an undertaking condition and with intimidation of four justice system participants.
"We take any case seriously where there is an allegation of anyone interfering with the court process or the process involving alleged victims or witnesses who would be part of the case," Wiebe said. "We touched on that, and that would be a significant concern for us."
As one of Didulo's charges was not abiding by the conditions imposed on her after her first arrest last week, Wiebe is hopeful she will abide by them this time.
"I trust that they will be (followed)," he said. "We spent quite a bit of time going over those conditions, and certainly our concern was that she know what the conditions are and that she'd be willing to abide by those conditions. And that was something that the court went through. We can never predict exactly what a person will do, but we trust that she will abide by those conditions."
Wiebe was asked why the Crown didn't push to block Didulo's contact with other members of her organization.
"We are focused on the allegations before the court," he said. "And the question that we have to answer is how the safety of the public can be protected. That's where our focus is with respect to our position on release as well as on conditions."
The evidence presented by the Crown and by Didulo at her bail hearing is under a publication ban.
"What our concern with respect to the public publication ban is, of course, when anybody has a right to a judge with a jury, we are concerned that facts that may be part of a bail hearing not influence potential jurors," Wiebe noted.
Didulo has indeed selected to be tried by a judge and jury in the Court of King's Bench.
She will return to court on September 17 to set a date for her preliminary inquiry.
Wiebe anticipates the whole trial could take a year or a year and a half to complete.
He will be back in court on Tuesday afternoon to deal with a bail hearing for Manz.