Fine for killing pig in backyard

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 14

Fine for killing pig in backyard

PA Wellington Killing a pig in a suburban backyard by a method said to be used in the Islands led to two men appearing in the District Court in Wellington. Sunubo Siosi and Pauni Sakai were each fined $250 by Judge Paterson, with $65 court costs and $5O solicitor’s fee, for slaughtering an animal, a boar, in such a manner as to cause it unnecessary pain and suffering. They pleaded guilty. The Judge ordered that in each case $2OO of the fine be paid to the S.P.C.A.

Prosecuting, Mr Neil

Archer said that on March 19 the two men were in the backyard of a house in Strathmore holding a pig. They put a pipe under the pig’s throat and pulled hard on its neck. The pig’s head was then hit with a brick.

An S.P.C.A. inspector who went to the property found extensive bruising on the body of the pig and deep lacerations on its head. The cause of death was strangulation. In mitigation, counsel, Mr Fuinaono Tuiasau, said the men came from Western Samoa. It appeared the practice ap-

propriate in the Islands of killing pigs was not appropriate in New Zealand. Judge Paterson: Are you telling me that is the way they kill pigs in the Islands? Mr Tuiasau: That is correct, in my experience.

He said he was instructed that his clients were telephoned by a relative in the Islands saying people were coming for a gathering. A pig was ordered from a farm at Wainuiomata. The S.P.C.A. had arrived within half an hour after being called by neighbours who heard squealing in the backyard.