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VANCOUVER - Former British Columbia polygamist leader Winston Blackmore is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on criminal charges and will have an ex Liberal MLA as part of his defence team.

Nelson, B.C., lawyer Blair Suffredine, the MLA for Nelson-Creston until 2005, said he has taken on the case of the outspoken polygamist from Bountiful, B.C., who is alleged to be married to 17 wives.

Suffredine noted the law now permits two people of the same sex to marry and attitudes have changed toward gay marriage in modern times.

In light of that change, ``it seems a little difficult to imagine how the polygamy section will survive a charter challenge where it's actually somebody who genuinely believes that under their religion and has practised it for many years,'' said Suffredine, adding he personally does not support polygamy.

``I don't know what religion our attorney-general (Wally Oppal) is, but I think in the Qur'an they permit multiple marriages, too.''

Oppal appointed a special prosecutor to look into the likelihood of gaining a conviction against Blackmore and another alleged Bountiful polygamist, James Oler.

Earlier this month, special prosecutor Terry Robertson gave his opinion, and the two men were charged with committing polygamy.

They are scheduled to make their first appearances in Creston provincial court Tuesday.

``There has been pressure over the years (to charge polygamists in B.C.),'' said Suffredine. ``Every few years it seems to rise up. It's more driven by the press than anything else.''

He said B.C.'s four previous attorneys-general concluded the polygamy section would not survive a Charter challenge.

Bountiful is a polygamist settlement in the Creston Valley of southeastern B. C.

The Vancouver Province
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