Lemay Forest protester fined $15K for breaching court injunction
A protester with a group that fought to prevent trees from being cut down at a privately owned parcel of land in south Winnipeg has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine after a judge found her to be in civil contempt of court for breaching an injunction.
Louise May, a member of the Coalition to Save the Lemay Forest, was found in civil contempt of court on Feb. 26 for breaching an injunction when she impeded the developer's access to the St. Norbert property.
May sat with supporters in the gallery for her sentencing hearing in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench on Monday. Her lawyer, Scott Newman, argued the contempt finding should be thrown out given May had apologized.
Manitoba Court of King's Bench Justice Sarah Inness noted that May had no criminal record and no prior contempt breaches, describing her as a community activist on environmental issues.
"She did the wrong thing but for an important public purpose," Inness said.
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