THE FIRST STORY IS HERE: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1598713.htm Teen seeks court's permission to marry
A 17-year-old Tasmanian girl has applied to the Magistrates Court for permission to marry her 25-year-old fiance before she turns 18.
Stephanie Anne Grabe, of New Norfolk, has applied on religious grounds, saying she wants to be married before she moves in with her partner, Owen Gillbee.
Miss Grabe and Mr Gillbee are Jehovah's Witnesses.
They have lived together in the past but say they now want to do things according to their religion.
Miss Grabe's parents live in Western Australia, so she's moved in with Mr Gillbee's parents until she can marry.
Miss Grabe can legally marry when she turns 18 in November but the court heard she wishes to speed up the process as the living arrangements have become difficult for her and Mr Gillbee's family.
Magistrate Sam Mollard adjourned the case for hearing in May.
He warned Miss Grabe that based on previous cases, it may be very difficult for her to gain consent.
Outside the court, Mr Gillbee's mother Pam said Miss Grabe's parents have given permission for the marriage.
ANOTHER VERSION OF THIS STORY IS HERE: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=92634
Allow us to marry, appeals teen girl
Thursday Mar 23 10:01 AEDT
A teenage girl has asked a Hobart court to let her marry her fiance, says The Mecury.
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 on Wednesday, 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 Hobart 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 on Wednesday the living arrangements had been "a little hectic".
"With two teenage girls, they don't always get on," he said.
Owen is living in Hobart while Stephanie is in New Norfolk.
The court heard Stephanie's parents lived in Western Australia 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.