AnimalVoicesNews
Source: AP
Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16950980/
PETA workers cleared
of animal cruelty
They euthanized shelter animals; judge fines them for dumping carcasses
Updated: 5:21 p.m. MT Feb 2, 2007
WINTON, N.C. - A jury found two animal-rights workers not guilty Friday of
animal cruelty for euthanizing animals they took from shelters, but both
were convicted of littering for dumping the carcasses in a trash bin.
Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook, two employees of People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals, or PETA, were cleared of eight misdemeanor counts of
animal cruelty. Hinkle also was found not guilty of three felony counts of
obtaining property by false pretenses.
Both received a 10-day suspended jail sentence and a year of supervised
probation, meaning neither will serve jail time. Their van will be
confiscated by police and each was ordered to pay $4,000 in fines and court
costs.
"I gave the penalty I thought was appropriate," Superior Court Judge Cy
Grant said.
As she left the courtroom after the two-week trial, Hinkle said she was
relieved.
"Justice was served," she said.
Cook declined immediate comment.
Hinkle and Cook had testified that they euthanized the animals in the back
of their van to relieve the animals' suffering. They said they disposed of
the bodies in Hertford County, instead of driving them back to the PETA
offices in Virginia, because the smell was overwhelming.
The animals were picked up from several shelters in northeast North
Carolina.
Hinkle, 28, of Norfolk, Va., and Cook, 26, of Virginia Beach, had each faced
21 felony counts of animal cruelty until Grant reduced those charges
Thursday, saying prosecutors failed to prove malice, a necessary element of
the felony charge.
The pair was arrested in June 2005 after police said they saw them dump
several bags of dead animals behind a grocery store. Police said they found
more dead animals in the pair's van.
Local shelter officials said they were unaware that PETA planned to
euthanize most of the animals it picked up, but a PETA official testified
that she told county officials of the policy.
Hinkle testified that she never told the shelters the animals wouldn't be
euthanized.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
© 2007 MSNBC.com
© 2007 Microsoft
----------------
Source: AP
Link:
http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070203/APA/702030
518
Published February 03. 2007 3:30AM
PETA Workers Cleared of Animal Cruelty
By SAMUEL SPIES
Associated Press Writer
PETA workers Andrew Cook and Adria Hinkle hug in Hertford County Criminal
Superior Court Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, in Winton, N.C., after a jury found
them not guilty of animal cruelty for euthanizing animals they picked up
from shelters, but guilty of littering for dumping the animals' bodies. (AP
Photo/Calvin Bryant, Pool)
WINTON, N.C. | A jury cleared two animal rights workers of animal cruelty
charges Friday for euthanizing cats and dogs they took from shelters, but
both were convicted of littering for dumping the carcasses in a trash bin.
Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook, two employees of People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals, were cleared of eight misdemeanor counts of animal
cruelty. Hinkle also was found not guilty on three felony counts of
obtaining property by false pretenses.
Both received a 10-day suspended jail sentence and a year of supervised
probation. Their van will be confiscated by police and each was ordered to
pay $4,000 in fines and restitution. They will also each have to serve 50
hours of community service.
As she left the courtroom after the two-week trial, Hinkle said she was
relieved. "Justice was served," she said.
"The important thing is the jury recognized they were never guilty of
cruelty," PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "We're relieved, we're
happy."
"It's a disgrace," said Andrea Press, a member of Responsible Dog Owners of
Eastern States. "PETA preaches to everybody not to hurt and kill animals.
And they just proved it's OK for them to do it. They're hypocrites."
The animals were picked up from several shelters in northeast North
Carolina. The pair testified that they euthanized the animals in the back of
their van to relieve the animals' suffering.
They said they disposed of the bodies in a garbage bin rather than drive
them back to PETA offices in Virginia, because the stench from the carcasses
was overwhelming.
Hinkle, 28, of Norfolk, Va., and Cook, 26, of Virginia Beach were arrested
in June 2005 after police said they saw them dump several bags of dead
animals into a trash bin behind a grocery store. Police said they found more
dead animals in the pair's van.
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