Deciding whether or not a southwest coast man and woman were responsible for the violent death of a cat in Port aux Basques last fall is now in the hands of a provincial court judge.
Jody Charlene Anderson of Port aux Basques and Peter Rossiter of O’Regans were charged on Oct. 1, 2019 in relation to the cat, known as Mittens. It’s alleged Mittens was killed with a weapon on Sept. 10, 2019.
The police investigation into the matter started four days later and as a result, Anderson was charged with two counts of unlawfully causing an animal unnecessary suffering and one count of injuring or endangering an animal. Rossiter was charged with single counts of injuring or endangering an animal and unlawfully causing an animal unnecessary suffering.
They went on trial in provincial court in Port aux Basques on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The matter had been set for two days but all the evidence was presented on the first day. Judge Lynn Cole will give her decision on the matter in Stephenville Provincial Court on Dec. 1.
Mittens’ death sparked outrage within the cat rescue community and the public as a whole. Vigils and rallies were held in Port aux Basques, Corner Brook, and St. John’s demanding justice for Mittens and changes to animal cruelty laws.
Diane Crocker reports on west coast news.