OliviaM's Channel

The courtroom gallery was empty this morning; no supporters chanting, no cameras and no sit-ins for a man accused of defying a court order to stay away from the highway construction at Eagle Ridge Bluffs in West Vancouver.

Only a day after environmental activist and great-grandmother, Betty Krawczyk was sentenced to 10 months in jail, fellow protestor, Andrew Teasdale, stands trial for his involvement in the blockade last spring.

Though Teasdale was present on May 25th, 2006 when West Vancouver Police Staff-Sergeant Jim Almas read the court ordered injunction, he was among the people who were not arrested that day at the makeshift tent city.

Almas testified in court today, "there were three people I was worried about, Mr. Teasdale was one of them. In fact I was glad he wasn't arrested that day...He was the loudest person, Betty Krawczyk was loud, but he was the loudest person that day."

Next Almas gave his account of June 2nd, the day Teasdale allegedly scaled a hillside in the construction zone and climbed atop a bulldozer.

 CAT Operator, Cody Crane, testified that Teasdale attempted to approach the driver's side door of the cab uttering threats and screaming profanities. Unsuccessful, Crane alleges he then leapt into the bucket of the machine, used to hold rocks and debris; scaling the boom, Teasdale tried to kick in the plexi-glass passenger side window. Crane said he then shut off the machine, fearful of the safety of himself and Teasdale.

 The Crown presented video evidence shot by CTV's chopper 9 of the entire incident.

Testimony will continue this afternoon.