Muskrat Falls opponent in custody, protesters block court vehicle
Beatrice Hunter wouldn't promise to obey court order and stay away from the site
A Muskrat Falls protester is being held in custody after refusing to tell a judge in Happy Valley-Goose Bay court that she'dstay away from the site and agroup called Labrador Land Protectorsare protesting her detainment.
Hunter was brought to wagon, group members lie in front of it, chanting. pic.twitter.com/yhCrhnNcMf
—@KatieBreenNL
The other three individuals were released after promisingJustice George Murphy they would obeythe existing court order. Hunter, however, said she couldn't promise to stay away from the site, and Murphy ordered her to be held in custody.
As Hunter was being loaded in a police van Monday afternoon, members of a group called Labrador Land Protectors laid down in front of the vehicle.Hunter was then led back inside Supreme Court.
Drummer has arrived. Has joined group lying in front of RCMP wagon #cbcnl pic.twitter.com/OIVgU0FPUV
—@KatieBreenNL
"That's exactly what Nalcor is doing to us, they're keeping us away," said Erin Saunders, one of three who said she'd refrain from protesting.
"I guess I'm going to have to obey this because if I go back down there or anyone else thejudge said, 'Arrest them right on the spot,' and he gave that order to the sheriff's department."
TheRCMPadvised the crowd outside the courthouse that if they continued to obstructa police vehicle, protesters would be charged with obstruction.
The group Labrador Land Protectors gathered at the main gate over the Victoria Day weekend in reaction to the flooding at Mud Lake.
The lawyer for Nalcor said the Crown corporation identified 10 people who broke the order, but that the four in courtMondaywere "repeat offenders."
RCMP has come to say if group continues to block transfer, people will be charged with obstruction which is a criminal code offence @CBCNL pic.twitter.com/ZjTP7ctaKj
—@KatieBreenNL
The lawyer said Nalcor would be pursuing contempt of court proceedings against the rest of the group, as well as five people who walked onto the North Spur site prior to the May 20 and 21 protest.
The undertaking that Hunter and the other protesters signed states that they will stay at least one kilometre away from any Muskrat site.
The three people who agreed to uphold the existing injunction are due back in courtnext Monday.