Polygamist Winston Blackmore sues B.C. for unlawful prosecution

A B.C. religious leader who was charged with polygamy last year is suing the provincial government for damages due to "unlawful" prosecution.

The charges against Winston Blackmore, one of two warring leaders of a fundamentalist Mormon sect in the Bountiful community of southeastern B.C., were quashed in September.

In his lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Mr. Blackmore claimed that the attorney general's ministry acted in a manner that was "high-handed, arbitrary, reckless, abusive, improper and inconsistent with the honour of the Crown and the administration of justice."

Mr. Blackmore, who has at least 25 wives and 101 children, said he became "deeply indebted" to his lawyers after charges were laid and he had to travel to Vancouver on at least one occasion to attend a hearing.

"As a result of the pending charges, Blackmore suffered business and other financial losses and he and his family were put under extreme stress and anxiety," said a statement of claim.

Source/Full Story: nationalpost.com