Berikoff, 57, is charged with attempted arson. She is a member of a Doukhobor sect called Sons of Freedom, which believes its role is to cleanse the world of materialism. Members also believe they should be naked before God, and Berikoff appeared in court clad only in a blue blanket.

Verigin, the 67-year-old wife of John J. Verigin, honorary chairman of the mainstream Doukhobors Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ, said she woke up last Sept. 5 and saw Berikoff trying to light gas-soaked clothes by her garage.

NELSON -- Pauline Berikoff arrived at Laura Verigin's Grand Forks home at 7:30 in the morning to "make supper," a court heard yesterday.

But Berikoff wasn't cooking food. She was trying to set Verigin's garage on fire, a B.C. Supreme Court jury here was told.

Berikoff, 57, is charged with attempted arson. She is a member of a Doukhobor sect called Sons of Freedom, which believes its role is to cleanse the world of materialism. Members also believe they should be naked before God, and Berikoff appeared in court clad only in a blue blanket.

Verigin, the 67-year-old wife of John J. Verigin, honorary chairman of the mainstream Doukhobors Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ, said she woke up last Sept. 5 and saw Berikoff trying to light gas-soaked clothes by her garage.

"Why in the hell are you doing this?" Verigin said she asked.

"I'm making supper," Berikoff replied.

"You get the hell out of here," Verigin said.

Verigin said her family's home, Sirotskoye (home of the leader), has been under 24-hour guard since the first home burned 20 years ago. The family's trailer has been burned on several other occasions.

"Our history has been one of several instances of what you may consider terrorist acts . . . attempted arsons," her son Barry Verigin, 36, testified.

He was on guard duty last Sept. 5 and soaked Berikoff's fuel with water from a garden hose.

"I took a breath and relaxed when I realized the lady's matches were wet."

The trial continues.