Closing statements presented in Denby trial

Crown reminded jury all councillors used the word ‘escalation’ when describing behaviour related to Denby

The trial against a Cameron resident concluded with closing statements today. Bill Denby is facing charges of uttering death threats, criminal harassment and intimidating a justice participant.

Denby has pleaded not guilty and is representing himself. The case is being heard by a 12‑member jury, with Justice Lisa Wannamaker presiding and Crown attorney Natasha Jerome leading the prosecution. Denby is acting as his own counsel and has entered not‑guilty pleas to all charges.

Denby made his closing arguments first. He started by showing the jury the “kerfuffle” video from a March 19, 2024, council meeting. Denby, along with other members of the Kawartha Lakes Taxpayers Association, entered the meeting and continually tried to make deputations before council.

Mayor Doug Elmslie repeatedly told the group to sit down or leave. The police were eventually called, and later a trespassing order was brought against Denby.

Denby then re-played for the jury a recording he made of a meeting with retired KLPS Inspector Tom Hickey, just a few days after the council meeting. Denby can be heard asking for an investigation to be brought against the city for more transparency. Hickey is now running for council in Ward 8.

Denby told the jury that this trial has been like “going through a movie that is real.”

Wannamaker had to remind Denby several times to only reference evidence that the jury had been presented with. Denby made references to sending emails to government agencies both in Canada and the U.S., saying he is in contact with U.S President Donald Trump. Denby also mentioned his $45-trillon net worth to the jury.

Denby said even though he has a lot of money, nothing matters more to him than ensuring his grandchildren, and all children of Kawartha Lakes have a good future.

Denby told the jury that his goal on March 19 was to provide council with evidence that he said would prove the budget was inaccurate and that millions of dollars were missing. He also said as a member of the Kawartha Lakes First Nation (an unrecognized group) he deserved to have council consult him before digging on his land.

He also claimed that following the March 19 meeting, council held a closed meeting where a plan to “kill Bill” was made. “They knew I wouldn’t stop,” Denby said. He alleged that the “kill Bill” plan was a coordinated effort by city staff, council and the police to silence him, and to make him look like a “lunatic.”

Denby then reminded the jury about his recognizable trailer and truck. “It was the only way I could prove to the public what was going on at city hall.” Denby claimed if the statements on his trailer were false, he would have been sued.

Towards the end of his closing, Denby told jury members that everything he did “was for the people.”

“I did not send that (April 9) email… I did not make any threatening calls,” Denby said.

Jerome, in her closing, acknowledged that Denby had the right to criticize council and to form the Kawartha Lakes Taxpayers Association. “These rights did not authorize Mr. Denby to bombard councillors with communications,” follow them or threaten them, she said.

Jerome told the jury Denby’s behaviour through his language in his emails sent and at the council meeting, showed that he wanted to instill fear in council members to get them to perform their public duties in a way that he wanted them to.

In regard to the April 9 email, Jerome said the jury can draw their own conclusion using the circumstantial evidence provided to infer if Denby was the author.

Denby admitted to using the email address in the past, and there are consistent random capitalizations, references to himself in the first person, the same grievances with council mentioned, and the same signature including his official title, address, and phone number at the end that are also included in the April 9 email.

Denby has also tried to prove that someone else sent the email, specifically mentioning Kawartha Lakes Police Service. Jerome said even if Denby was not the one physically typing the email, if it was someone within his circle it would still be related back to him.

She also pointed out that Denby was arrested on April 25, 2014, and it didn’t seem reasonable that the police would have fabricated an email for an arrest that didn’t happen until two weeks later.

Jerome reminded the jury that the councillors who testified, accepted that part of their jobs means they may be criticized and that they can’t please everyone. She also said that all the councillors used the word ‘escalation’ when describing the behaviour related to Denby.

She pointed to the testimony of Councillors Mike Perry, Tracy Richardson and Dan Joyce, and the changes they made to their lives, such as installing security cameras, sitting near doors in restaurants, and looking in their review mirrors while driving, to show that they had a reasonable fear for their safety.

Jerome also pointed jurors to remember a video of Denby and an associate holding up a noose and skull while talking about the councillors, saying a reasonable person in the same circumstances as council members, would have a genuine fear for their life.

Jerome concluded by saying that Denby had the right to criticize council and send them emails with his concerns and critiques, but he had no lawful authority to harass councillors.

The Crown does not need to prove he intended to carry out the threat, but that he said it knowing it would be taken seriously or to cause intimidation. “A reasonable person does not need to wait for an assault to happen to be reasonably fearful,” Jerome said.

Tomorrow, after Wannamaker concludes her instructions for the jury, deliberations will begin.