Prosecution expected to start making case in trial involving polygamous sect

CRANBROOK (NEWS1130) – A Crown lawyer at a trial involving three people with connections to a polygamous sect in southeastern BC says he’ll describe what is expected of girls and women in the isolated religious community.

In his opening statement, special prosecutor Peter Wilson told a court in Cranbrook that the group’s beliefs about sex and plural marriage would prove intent to transport girls across the United States border for sexual purposes.

Brandon Blackmore, Gail Blackmore and James Oler are each accused of unlawfully removing a child from Canada over allegations that date back to 2004.

The first witness was midwife Jane Blackmore, who in 1975 married Winston Blackmore, a leader in Bountiful where some residents practice plural marriage.

She told the court that people in the community are taught that engaging in plural marriage was necessary to achieve the highest degree of celestial glory, but they must live a life that is secret and separate from mainstream society.

Blackmore, who has since left Bountiful, testified that she became depressed while juggling nursing courses and raising six children, yet she was expected to ask her husband for permission to take antidepressants or slow down her studies.

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