Mary Braun was sentenced to two years less a day and Marilyn and Naida Stoochnoff, Olga Hoodichoff and Pauline Berikoff to nine months each. They pleaded guilty Dec. 15 to charges of arson on the trailer home of Stefan Sorokin in Krestova.

Sentenced for arson, Doukhobors disrobe

Thursday, December 28, 1978

Nelson BC -- NELSON, B.C. (CP) - Five women of the Sons of Freedom Doukhobor sect were sentenced to jail yesterday for setting fire to the home of the sect's leader.

During the sentencing the five and about a dozen of the 100 spectators in the courtroom disrobed. The naked spectators were carried, still sitting in their chairs, outside the court, and several were taken into custody, RCMP said.

Mary Braun was sentenced to two years less a day and Marilyn and Naida Stoochnoff, Olga Hoodichoff and Pauline Berikoff to nine months each. They pleaded guilty Dec. 15 to charges of arson on the trailer home of Stefan Sorokin in Krestova.

During the trial the women said John J. Verigin, honorary leader of the orthodox Doukhobors, threatened them with a seven-generation curse if they did not burn Mr. Sorokin's home. Judge D. M. McDonald said he took their fear of the curse into account in deciding on the sentence.

Four days after the women testified, Mr. Verigin and two other Doukhobors were charged with conspiracy to commit arson. They appear in court next month.