Impartial adviser to address trial involving B.C. polygamists
Closing submissions today in trial of 3 people connected to a British Columbia polygamous community
A lawyer appointed to act as an impartial adviser is expected to make brief closing submissions today in the trial for
three people connected to a British Columbia polygamous community.
Brandon Blackmore, Gail Blackmore and James Oler are accused of removing girls, aged 13 and 15, from Canada for a sexual purpose.
Gail Blackmore and James Oler have chosen not to hire a lawyer and told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Paul Pearlman they would not make closing arguments on Tuesday.
Lawyer Joe Doyle's role is not to act as legal counsel for the pair, but to assist the court in procedural matters.
Brandon Blackmore's lawyer, John Gustafson, told the judge in his closing arguments that the prosecution has not proven his client removed a 13-year-old girl from Canada or that he intended that she have sexual relations with an older man.
The trial heard the girl was transported to the United States in 2004 to marry Warren Jeffs, the now-imprisoned prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.