Calgary court orders Freeman on the Land embassy closed
Posted Sep 25, 2013 7:32 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Calgary court has given a Sylvan Lake senior her rental property back and given a Freemen-on-the-Land member the boot from her Parkdale duplex.
Judge Judith Hanebury ruled Tuesday in favour of Rebekah Caverhill so that she might evict Andreas Pirelli.
The 48-year-old moved in nearly two years ago on the agreement that he would help to maintain and renovate the property.
When Caverhill showed up at the home, she found he had gutted the kitchen and bathroom, changed the locks, and painted the master bedroom black.
He then escorted her out the door, declaring she had no rights over his “sovereign embassy.”
It turned out that Pirelli was a member of Freemen-on-the-Land, a movement that states anyone can opt out of regulations by declaring themselves “sovereign citizens.”
Hanebury agreed with lawyers and ruled that he will have to pay Caverhill $8,970 in past due rent and utility.
The order came after she refused to hear from a representative or “agent” appearing on Pirelli’s behalf.
According to the Calgary Sun, the man who stood up in court initially identified himself as “Oochuk” before later giving the name “Kenneth of the Walter family.”
“This has been turned into an international incident; there’s been several thousand death threats,” he told the judge.
He plans to appeal the decision.
Pirelli will now have to be out before Friday at midnight before the bailiffs are called to the property.
It’s not his first brush with the law.
The 48-year-old has an arrest warrant in Québec under the name Mario Antonacci; he was on trial for assault and failed to show up for his appearance.
Calgary Police say they’re currently consulting with the crown to see if criminal charges can be laid.
The Law Society of British Columbia and B.C. Notaries have both issued warnings about Freemen.
In a bulletin last year, they warned the group may number as many as 30,000 in Canada.
