Alleged bigamist 'bride of year' could face jail

Authorities are circling in on a Whangarei Bride of the Year contestant who allegedly has two husbands.

The Department of Internal Affairs said it would today be asking police to investigate an allegation that Joanne Thorn, who entered last month's Raumanga Kindergarten Bride of the Year fundraising competition, was an alleged bigamist.

The Northern Advocate has obtained copies of marriage certificates which appear to show Mrs Thorn is currently legally married to two men - David Wayne Thompson in 1988 and Grant Thorn in March this year.

Under Section 205 of the Crimes Act 1961, bigamy carries a maximum penalty of seven years jail. A spouse who knowingly marries a married person is liable for up to two years jail.

Department spokesman Tony Wallace said today bigamy, while not unknown in New Zealand, was a rare crime.

"We intend to pass this matter on to police today to investigate."

Mr Wallace said the department also had copies of the marriage certificates and would pass them on to police.

Advocate inquiries show that Mrs Thorn, 31, was allegedly still married to her first husband - Mr Thompson - when she married Mr Thorn earlier this year.

Spoken to earlier this month, Mrs Thorn said her marriage to Mr Thorn was legal and her marriage to Mr Thompson was not a legal marriage.

"It was just a commitment ceremony to Wayne and it wasn't a legal marriage. If it was I wouldn't have been able to get married (to Mr Thorn)," she said.

Mrs Thorn has been unwilling to comment specifically about the bigamy allegation.

However, Mr Thompson said as far as he was concerned he and his wife were still married.

While they had split in 1992, he had only recently received divorce papers from Mrs Thorn. The couple have three children.

The Advocate has received a copy of the divorce papers served on Mr Thompson dated May 9, this year, as well as copies of the marriage certificates to Mr Thompson and Mr Thorn.

Details about Mrs Thorn are the same on the certificates except in the certificate with Mr Thompson she has given her maiden name as Burgess, but in the one with Mr Thorn her maiden name is recorded as Codlin. In both she stated that she had never been married before.

The crime of bigamy is rare, both nationally and internationally.

The United States recently witnessed what was believed to be the country's first conviction for bigamy in 50 years.

In May, Utah polygamist Tom Green was found guilty on four counts of bigamy after marrying five women. His sentencing was to be held today, but details were not available at edition time. He faced a maximum of 25 years in jail.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE