Chris Carbert brought guns and body armour to the Coutts blockade, but says there was no plan for violence unless he had to perhaps flee to the mountains and fend off someone trying to give him a COVID-19 vaccine shot.

害羞草研究所淭here was no plan,害羞草研究所� Carbert told court Friday under questioning from his lawyer at his trial in Lethbridge.

害羞草研究所淲ere you involved in any sort of plan or agreement to attack police officers in Coutts?害羞草研究所� Carbert was asked by lawyer Katherin Beyak.

害羞草研究所淎bsolutely not,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淲hy would I have issue with police? They害羞草研究所檙e more or less kind of heroes in western culture.害羞草研究所�

Carbert and Anthony Olienick are on trial together in Court of King害羞草研究所檚 Bench accused of conspiring to murder police officers at the Coutts blockade.

The blockade at the U.S.-Alberta border point tied up traffic for two weeks in early 2022 to protest COVID restrictions, including vaccine mandates for truckers.

Carbert said he saw Coutts as an opportunity to get rid of the trucker vaccine mandates.

He said if that didn害羞草研究所檛 happen, things were not going to turn out good.

害羞草研究所淎nd what do you mean by not good?害羞草研究所� Beyak asked.

害羞草研究所淟ikely in violence,害羞草研究所� he said.

He admitted to bringing weapons with him to Coutts as well as modified body armour.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 got multiple functions, obviously for hunting or heaven forbid for protection if it ever got to that,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 in there for the reason it害羞草研究所檚 in there, (such as) if I was heading to the mountains and they came all the way out there to give me a vaccination or something. Then perhaps.害羞草研究所�

Carbert was asked about a series of text messages he exchanged with his mother during the standoff.

One text message read, 害羞草研究所淢om, I am fine. If they start the violence, I am just telling you there will be war and casualties of war.害羞草研究所�

The text added, 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think you truly understand what this is for and about. If we lose here, I will likely die in war.害羞草研究所�

Beyak asked about the exchange.

害羞草研究所淲e had our differences and out in Coutts (Mom) kept asking me to go home,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚 kept telling her, 害羞草研究所楴o, we害羞草研究所檙e not. I害羞草研究所檓 not leaving until the mandates are dropped.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

All protesters left quickly and peacefully after police seized weapons near the blockade and made arrests.

Carbert and Olienick are also charged with mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Olienick faces a further charge of possessing a pipe bomb.

The Crown has presented witness and physical evidence to argue that Olienick and Carbert were conspiring to kill police.

Officers seized weapons, body armour and ammunition in trailers near the blockade, along with a firearms licence in Carbert害羞草研究所檚 name.

They later located more weapons, buckets of ammunition and two pipe bombs at Olienick害羞草研究所檚 home.

Undercover officers have quoted Olienick telling them he considered Coutts the mission of a lifetime and if police tried to shut down the barricade he would 害羞草研究所渟lit their throats.害羞草研究所�

In a police interrogation video shown to the jury, Olienick is seen denying he targeted police but saying he feared an invasion by United Nations troops or Chinese communists.

The trial will resume Tuesday. The Crown will have an opportunity to cross-examine Carbert.

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press