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B.C. Grand Chief Edward John's Prince George court date pushed back a third time

This is the third time John's arraignment hearing has been pushed back
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Edward John was scheduled to appear in court today (Feb. 26) but his apperance has been moved to next month. (courthouse photo via John E Deacon, BC, LLB, QC. Photo of Edward John via The Canadian Press)

After being accused and charged for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a female without her consent more than 45 years ago, British Columbia Indigenous leader Edward John's arraignment hearing has once again been moved for the third time. 

Prosecutor Michael Klein QC, a private practice lawyer from Vancouver and defense council Tony Paisana agreed to push the arraignment hearing back a third time to Wednesday, March 25. 

Klein said they are awaiting one piece of information in order to proceed with the case. 

It was announced in November that John had been charged with four counts of having intimate relations with a female without her consent in 1974 and the case being appointed to Klein manage allegations. 

John is the Hereditary Chief of the Tl’azt’en Nation near Fort St. James, roughly 215 km northwest of Prince George.

A special prosecutor is being used to “avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice,” considering John’s prominent stature.

The 70-year-old is charged with four counts of having sexual intercourse with a female person without her consent for incidents alleged to have occurred between Mar. 1 and Sept. 15, 1974.

John originally was scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 10, 2019, before that date was pushed back to Jan. 15. 

He completed his 11th consecutive term as an elected leader of the First Nations Summit's political executive in June.

He did not seek re-election but continued as an advisor on contract with the organization, one of the largest Indigenous organizations in the province.

The First Nations Summit has declined to comment previously but had issued a statement saying it will fully co-operate with the RCMP, prosecution service or other investigating bodies. 

It has suspended John's contract pending the outcome of the legal case.

- with files from Colin Dacre, Castanet, Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters and The Canadian Press