Weird news article from the front page of the local newspaper below...I doubt whether this is a good news story for JWs as it tends to indicate that the JW involved was a paedophile (ie she was at best 15 when they first started "living together")....
Allow us to marry: Teen asks court for love licence By GAVIN LOWER Law Reporter 23mar06
A TEENAGE girl has asked a Stephanie Grabe is 17 and has applied to the Hobart Magistrates Court for permission to marry on religious grounds.
She and her fiance, Owen Gillbee, 25, are Jehovah's Witnesses and are not allowed to live together before they are married.
Outside court yesterday Owen's mother, Pam Gillbee, explained that the couple were trying to do the right thing.
"Surely the court would help them to do the right thing," she said.
Mrs Gillbee said Owen and Stephanie met when Owen moved to to work.
Owen had "faded out" of his religion and they began living together, which Mrs Gillbee said she and her husband thought was wrong.
They lived together for two years and in that time Stephanie joined a Bible study group and became a Jehovah's Witness.
That led to their living arrangements having to change because of the religion's views on living together before marriage.
As a result Owen's father moved in with the couple to chaperone for seven months until Stephanie moved in with Owen's family.
But the living arrangements have not been smooth sailing with Owen's teenage sister also living with them. Owen told Magistrate Sam Mollard yesterday the living arrangements had been "a little hectic".
"With two teenage girls they don't always get on," he said.
Owen is living in while Stephanie is in New Norfolk.
The court heard Stephanie's parents lived in and had consented to her marrying Owen.
Under federal law people can only get married after they turn 18.
However the law lets people aged between 16 and 18 apply to be allowed to get married in exceptional and unusual circumstances.
Stephanie will turn 18 in November.
Mr Mollard said he would hear evidence in Stephanie's application on May 5.
He suggested she would have to explain why her case was exceptional and unusual and that her application should be granted.
Mr Mollard also referred her to earlier cases dealing with applications to be allowed to marry.