System dragging the chain on animal welfare case

A case involving serious animal welfare charges is making slow progress through court due to a succession of adjournments and changes of legal counsel.

Matthew Gordon Brown, 46, of Te Karaka, faces 10 animal cruelty charges relating to a team of dogs, including one he allegedly allowed to become so emaciated that it died.

At a progress hearing in Gisborne District Court on Thursday, Judge Tony Couch was told there needed to be a second change of legal counsel due to a conflict of interest and accordingly, another case review hearing would be needed.

Judge Couch noted there had been a succession of adjournments that had already slowed the progress of the case, which would be further delayed by this latest change in counsel.

The judge scheduled Brown to appear for another case review hearing on March 26.

The charges allege offending dating back to between May and October, 2021.

Brown first appeared in court on those charges last September and pleaded not guilty to nine two months later.

It was unknown why there was still no plea on the 10th charge, Judge Couch said. It could not be entered until new counsel was assigned.

The judge also remarked on the fact Brown had previously been remanded at large.

“Given the seriousness of these charges these remands should be on bail,” the judge said.

In his view, there should also have been a bail condition preventing Brown from keeping any dogs.

Questioned by the judge as to whether he currently had dogs, Brown said he had not since 2018 or 2019.

“These charges relate to 2021 (so) you must have had dogs then,” the judge said.

Brown said he didn’t.

Judge Couch imposed bail with conditions that Brown remain living at a specified address and did not keep dogs.

The charges, laid under the Animal Welfare Act (1999), were brought by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), which alleges Brown failed to meet the physical health and behavioural needs of about 12 dogs by failing to provide antibiotics and pain relief to those that needed it, proper and sufficient food, and protection from and rapid diagnosis of a significant disease, namely worm burden.

One of the charges alleges he wilfully ill-treated a black and tan dog called Pluto and caused it to suffer unnecessary distress by failing to get treatment for it when it lost weight. The dog subsequently died.

Most of the charges carry penalties of up to 12 months' imprisonment or a fine of up to $50,000. However, the charge relating to the death of Pluto can result in a prison term of up to five years or a fine of up to $100,000.