A group of environmental activists who chained themselves to Enbridge Line 9 equipment left a Sarnia courtroom Friday without criminal convictions in what's being billed as a precedent-setting victory for pipeline demonstrators across Ontario.

Vanessa Gray, 24, of Sarnia, along with Guelph residents Sarah Scanlon, 30, and Stone Stewart, 29, had been facing charges of mischief endangering lives and mischief over $5,000 after they occupied an Enbridge site on Mandaumin Road and allegedly manually shut down a valve there on Dec. 21, 2015.

But after a year-long legal battle – including a series of meetings between the Crown and the defence to arrive at a resolution – all charges were withdrawn against the women Friday after they agreed to an 18-month court order to stay away from Enbridge property.

The charges had been set for a Feb. 24 trial.

While defence lawyer Nick Cake said Friday the accused weren't accepting the facts of the case as presented by the Crown, they didn't oppose the court order.

Assistant Crown attorney Nila Mulpuru told the court Friday there was no prospect of a conviction on the charge of mischief endangering life – a charge that carries a maximum penalty of a life sentence.

Outside of the Sarnia courthouse Friday, Cake said the Crown simply couldn't prove that the women had endangered life by allegedly manipulating a valve which could have caused a back flow to happen.

By doing so, he said the Crown would have to show the Enbridge pipeline could rupture – “which is obviously something that Enbridge doesn't want to publicly say, although we all know it's true.”

“It's the first time that activists of this nature have been charged with the endangering life charge, and so it's precedent-setting in a way that in this particular incident, the Crown could not prove the charge,” said Cake, who represented all three women during their court appearance Friday.

According to information presented by the Crown – in consultation with Enbridge – shutting off the valve with the pipeline running could have resulted in a catastrophic rupture, but Enbridge had been contacted prior to the valve being closed off, allowing the pipeline to be shut down by the company.

Justice Deborah Austin, who presided over Friday's hearing, cautioned the trio it is a criminal offence if they violate the court order.

More than a dozen people gathered outside of the Sarnia courthouse Friday to show their support for the activists at a press conference following the trio's court appearance.

A teary-eyed Scanlon thanked supporters and said she hopes other people will continue demonstrations at Enbridge properties because the trio cannot be on company grounds for 18 months.

“We have a lot of work to do,” she said.

Gray also vowed Friday to continue her work against petrochemical companies because she said it's her inherent right as an Anishinaabe Kwe to defend the water and health of all people.

“Line 9 is only one of the existing many pipelines here in Aamjiwnaang,” she said. “We all share that responsibility to use our voices and our bodies to stand up to these companies. The land beneath the refineries in the Chemical Valley is still considered sacred.”

During the press conference, Aamjiwnaang First Nation elder Mike Plain commended the trio for the stand they took at the Enbridge site.

“This is being recognized and noticed throughout Turtle Island – and as a matter of fact, the whole world – that the harm, the dangers of this crude oil can have ever-lasting effects on all of creation,” he said.

Based on his own research, Cake said he believes Gray, Scanlon and Stewart are the first Line 9 demonstrators in Ontario that have been charged with mischief endangering life, and the withdrawal of that charge sends a powerful message to petrochemical companies.

“The message that was sent here (Friday) was you're going to have to step up and tell us...how flawed your pipelines are,” said Cake, of London's Millar Law Company.

“The only way they can prove these cases is by admitting that their pipelines are subject to rupture.”

In a statement, Enbridge spokesperson Suzanne Wilton said the company is “disappointed” with the outcome of the case.

“Tampering with energy infrastructure is very serious and potentially dangerous,” Wilton wrote in an email. “At Enbridge, the safety of the public, the environment and our workers are always our top priority, and tampering with energy infrastructure has the potential to cause real harm to the public, the environment [and] the activists themselves.”

bsimpson@postmedia.com