National

B.C. Appeal Court Upholds Attempt To Charge Accused Polygamist

The Canadian Press, 01 Jun, 2016 01:27 PM

VANCOUVER — The leader of a fundamentalist religious community has lost his attempt to have a polygamy charge filed against him derailed at the B.C. Court of Appeal.

Winston Blackmore's lawyers wanted the appointment of a third special prosecutor in the case quashed, arguing that the first special prosecutor's decision against laying charges should stand.

But lawyers for the government argued reopening the case was justified, saying police collected new evidence and the B.C. Supreme Court confirmed in a constitutional case that polygamy is against the law.

Blackmore, one of the leaders of the fundamentalist religious sect in Bountiful, is accused of one count of polygamy for allegedly having two dozen wives.

In a unanimous decision released today by the appeal court panel, Justice David Frankel wrote there was a change in circumstances, leaving the assistant deputy attorney general to decide that it is in the public interest to appoint another prosecutor.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Abbotsford Police Respond To Gunshot At Hotel, No Evidence Of Injuries

Police say the caller said they believed the shot came from an adjacent suite at the hotel (in the 1800-block of Sumas Way).

Abbotsford Police Respond To Gunshot At Hotel, No Evidence Of Injuries

All-Party Committee Will Study How To Sanction Justin Trudeau For Commons Fracas

One expert says the Liberal majority on the all-party committee of procedure and House affairs means it's unlikely Trudeau will face any punishment.

All-Party Committee Will Study How To Sanction Justin Trudeau For Commons Fracas

Meet The Man Who Will Help Draw The Blueprint For Canada's Economic Future

For Dominic Barton, the invitation to apply his decades worth of experience as an international economic fixer at home was a "duty" he didn't want to pass up.

Meet The Man Who Will Help Draw The Blueprint For Canada's Economic Future

After The Elbow: Ruth Ellen Brosseau Target Of Personal Attacks Since Commons Encounter

Brosseau, who admits to still being personally shaken by the incident, says her office has received a number phone calls, many of them suggesting she is "crying wolf."

After The Elbow: Ruth Ellen Brosseau Target Of Personal Attacks Since Commons Encounter

Disease Found In Salmon On One Fish Farm In B.C. But More Research Needed

VANCOUVER — Scientists have detected a potential disease in farmed Atlantic salmon for the first time in British Columbia, but say more research is needed to determine if it could affect wild populations of the fish.

Disease Found In Salmon On One Fish Farm In B.C. But More Research Needed

Terrorism-related Peace Bond To Be Lifted For P.E.I. University Student

CHARLOTTETOWN — The lawyer for a P.E.I. man accused of having enough castor beans to produce the deadly toxin ricin says his client will soon be freed from the conditions of a peace bond he signed a year ago.