A judge has heard from the two ex-wives of a Chatham man accused of bigamy.
During proceedings in a Chatham courtroom Monday, the first ex-wife says she and the accused separated in 1999, when he moved out of their home. The ex-wife alleges she made multiple attempts to divorce, but gave up when the two couldn't reach terms.
In 2006, she says the accused told her he was engaged, and voiced interest in divorce. While going through the divorce process, the first wife learned the accused and his new fiancee had a ceremony in September. She claims she heard it was a "blessing of the hands" ceremony, and not an official marriage. But the second ex-wife confirmed with the Crown she married the accused on September 16, 2006.
Meanwhile the first wife signed the divorce paperwork and sent it back to the accused's lawyers, not hearing about it again until April 2007, when she wanted to change her name for filing taxes. After speaking with the two parties' lawyers, she eventually received the divorce order which is dated December 11, 2007.
The second wife was also questioned about the process of receiving a marriage licence. She told the Crown she only saw the application when filling it out in August 2006, and signing the licence itself the following month. When shown the document, she noted the husband's side had "never married" checked off.
The accused was arrested back in 2013 following an alleged domestic dispute incident. He's facing charges of bigamy and uttering a forged document. The accused's second wife will continue being questioned Tuesday morning at 10am.
