Photo: The Canadian Press

After being accused and charged for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a female without her consent more than 45 years ago, B.C. Indigenous leader Edward John's arraignment hearing has once again been moved for the third time. 

Prosecutor Michael Klein and defence counsel Tony Paisana agreed to push the arraignment hearing back a third time on Wednesday, to March 25. 

Klein said they are awaiting one piece of information in order to proceed with the case. 

It was announced in November that John had been charged with four counts of having intimate relations with a female without her consent in 1974. 

John is a hereditary chief of the Tl’azt’en Nation near Fort St. James.

A special prosecutor is being used to “avoid any potential for real or perceived improper influence in the administration of justice,” considering John’s prominent stature.

The 70-year-old is charged with four counts of having sexual intercourse with a female person without her consent for incidents alleged to have occurred between Mar. 1 and Sept. 15, 1974.

John originally was scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 10, 2019, before that date was pushed back to Jan. 15. 

He completed his 11th consecutive term as an elected leader of the First Nations Summit's political executive in June. He did not seek re-election.