BC won’t go to SCOC on polygamy laws

By

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) –  BC has decided not to take its fight against polygamy to a higher court, clearing the way for a special prosecutor to lay polygamy charges linked to the RCMP investigation in Bountiful, BC.

Attorney General Shirley Bond says the province has decided against going to the Supreme Court of Canada to get a reference on the constitutionality of BC’s polygamy laws.

Bond believes the current anti-polygamy laws are strong enough to support criminal charges against those in polygamous relationships without getting an opinion for the higher court.

Bond adds special prosecutor Peter Wilson will now conduct an independent review of the information gathered by the ongoing RCMP investigation in Bountiful to determine if charges should be laid.

Earlier this year, Wilson was appointed to examine possible charges related to the movement of teen brides across the US border to marry much older men.

In 2009, Winston Blackmore and James Oler, rival leaders of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Bountiful, were charged with practicing polygamy. Those charges were thrown out on a technicality, leading to the constitutional reference case, which uncovered the movement of the child brides.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today