Romana Didulo, the self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Canada,’ appeared in person at Swift Current Provincial Court on Friday morning. Both Didulo and Ricky Manz, the owner of the former Richmound school where Didulo and her followers reside, were charged by RCMP on Thursday. “Innocent until proven guilty,” Didulo told reporters as she walked into the court house. “There is zero [evidence] on false accusations of the possession of weapons.” Officers said they first executed a search warrant in the southwestern Saskatchewan community at the privately-owned former school, where Didulo and her followers had taken up residence around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, after a report of an individual with a firearm. RCMP say officers arrested 16 people, including Didulo, and found four imitation handguns during a preliminary investigation. Further investigation led to the discovery and seizure of 13 imitation semi-automatic handguns, ammunition, as well as a large number of electronic handguns, according to an update from RCMP on Thursday. All 16 were released from police custody, with five people subject to an undertaking. RCMP say a man and a woman were rearrested as the two breached a condition that they do not contact one another. In a Thursday evening update from RCMP, the identity of the woman was confirmed to be Didulo, 50, while the identity of the man was confirmed to be Manz, 61. Didulo faces one count of failure to comply with undertaking conditions and one count of intimidation of a justice system participant in connection with the ongoing investigation in Richmound. As she was arraigned by Justice Alan Jacobson, Didulo referred to herself as, ‘her majesty the queen Romana Didulo the first.” While the judge urged her multiple times to hire a lawyer given her inexperience with the justice system, Didulo refused to do so and repeatedly objected the charges made against her. Didulo also said she does not subject herself to the “codes of statutory law” and instead follows what she calls “natural law.” “I consent only to represent myself under natural law,” she said multiple times. “You’ll be charged according to the criminal code, which is statutory,” Justice Jacobson responded. “You may say to me, ‘Judge Jacobson, you’re a boldface liar.’ I may disagree with what you’re saying, but I understand what you are saying,” he explained to Didulo. “That is the difference when you have the accusations against you, they’re just accusations. And I presume you’re innocent until proven guilty.” Didulo will remain in custody until her bail hearing at Swift Current Provincial Court on Monday at 9:30 a.m. “I requested [to be tried] under natural law court only,” Didulo told reporters outside the court after being taken back into custody. “It was denied and I did not give consent to statutory law.” Ricky Manz Manz is charged with one count of failure to comply with a release order condition, one count of intimidation of a justice system participant, and one count of failure to comply with undertaking condition. He is also facing seven additional charges relating to previous incidents, including assaults, resisting arrest, mischief, uttering threats, and obstructing municipalities. The Crown also opposed Manz’s release Friday. “These allegations I am being held on are not true,” Manz told the court. “I’m asking to be released on my own accord, and I’ll come back to court. I promise.” Manz also used ‘natural law’ language throughout his hearing. “The Supreme Court of Canada is under natural law,” he claimed. “I am bound by the criminal code, as is any court of Canada,” Judge Jacobson responded. “In the minds of some people, there’s a conflict with natural law. I don’t think there is, but it always depends on what a person believes.” Similarly to Didulo, Manz is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing Monday morning in Swift Current. However, he is seeking the assistance of legal aid. Both Didulo and Manz were also served non-contact orders for five people, including each other. Manz also had several other individuals, including two police officers, added to his court order. Earlier this month, the village office closed its doors to the public, citing harassment and intimidation towards staff. Didulo rose to prominence in the wave of alt subcultures that emerged during the protests against the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to taking up residence in Richmound, Didulo and her followers were forced out of Kamsack, Sask., on Sept. 13, 2023. Richmound, Sask., is located north of Maple Creek near the Alberta border — about 445 kilometres west of Regina. With files from The Canadian Press and Rory MacLean
