November 7 is the first day of the trial of Byron Sonne, who was arrested a few days before the G20 summit began in Toronto in June 2010. Sonne was originally charged with six offences—possession of a weapon, multiple charges of possessing an explosive substance, mischief and two charges of intimidating justice system officials. Kristen Peterson, Sonne’s now-estranged wife, was arrested two days after him and charged with possessing an explosive material and a weapon.
Peterson was granted bail the day after she was arrested under the condition that she not speak to her husband except through lawyers. Sonne was denied bail twice, and spent 11 months in jail. Last May, after a three-week pre-trial, he was granted bail. He also saw most of his charges dropped, including mischief, intimidation and, most notably, possession of a weapon. He now faces four counts of possessing explosive materials, as well as the charge of “counseling the commission of an offence not committed.”
The details of Sonne's testimony in the pre-trial are covered by a Criminal Code publication ban right now. Here, though, is everything that can be shared with the public at this point:
Who is Byron Sonne?
Sonne is a 38-year-old who was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario. He has worked in various jobs pertaining to computer security. At the time of his arrest, he was heading up his own computer security consultancy called Halvdan Solutions, out of the home in Forest Hill which he shared with his wife. His various security analysis jobs focused on vulnerability research, which means acting as though he was maliciously trying to access his clients’ websites and online products to see if an outsider could access confidential information.
Before his arrest, Sonne had a variety of technology-related hobbies, many related to security. Once, he tried to build an anti-Taser patch out of denim and steel wool. He is a member of Hacklab, a Toronto collective of tech hobbyists who share a space in Kensington Market.
What exactly is he accused of doing?
Much of the specifics about Sonne’s charges are currently covered by a publication ban. Toronto Police allege that he had a variety of chemical substances in his home for the purpose of building explosive materials. They also allege that his online presence in advance of the G20 indicated malicious intent towards the summit and the international politicians and diplomats who were to gather in the city that weekend. Sonne posted various opinions about G20 security on his Twitter account, Toronto Goat and took photos of the security fence surrounding the summit area, which he posted to his Flickr account. Captions on some of the Flickr photos indicate a disdain for the police—one shot of bicycle cops is slugged “Bacon on Wheels.”
Sonne’s defence, as it can be reported, is that the chemicals in his home were for various hobby experiments that had nothing to do with the G20. He says he was doing an independent analysis of summit security, which cost Canadians over $1 billion.
What about his wife?
Peterson began divorce proceedings about three months after Sonne was arrested. Sonne says that he is shocked, and the marriage was the pride and joy of his life. The couple had been married for seven years, and together for 15. Peterson is a visual artist who focuses on perspective. Some of her work can be seen on shelters along the St. Clair streetcar line. She has not done any media interviews about her arrest, or Sonne.
What has Sonne been doing since his arrest?
Sonne’s bail conditions require him to live with his parents, Bue and Valerie Sonne, at their home in Brampton, and to be with one of them at all times. He is allowed to own only one brand-new computer, and to use internet and email only for work. His bail conditions also permit the Toronto Police to search his parents' home and his computer once a week. They have not done so in the six months he was living under bail.
What’s going to happen at the trial?
Sonne is represented by three lawyers, Joseph DiLuca, Peter Copeland and Kevin Tilley. They are expected to argue that his initial arrest and the search of his home violated his rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
For more background on Byron Sonne and his arrest, Check out the longer story I wrote in Toronto Life magazine just before he was granted bail.
