Cruelty charge dropped

AN ANIMAL cruelty charge against an Edmonton woman accused of stabbing a dog in the neck has been dropped.

Matters against Bernadette Sheree Phillips have been listed for long plea next month.

The 28-year-old was initially facing three charges of animal cruelty, burglary with intent uses/threatens violence while in company and injuring animals over an incident on November 1 last year at Edmonton.

It is alleged that she and Ryan James Alexander Hunter, 29, who is facing the same three charges, entered the yard of a Cattleya Cl home and deliberately injured a dog because it was barking.

The case against Ms Phillips was listed to finalise in the Cairns Magistrates Court yesterday but instead defence solicitor Joseph Crawfoot asked for an adjournment after “a last minute issue” regarding a possible amendment to the charges.

“As such we’re not in a position to have the matter finalised today,” Mr Crawfoot said.

“It can be relisted for long plea.”

Senior prosecutor for QPS Susan Miles said police prosecutions were offering no evidence for the animal cruelty charge.

The remaining two charges – burglary with intent uses/ threatens violence while in company and injuring animals – have been listed for long plea on September 4. Phillips is out on bail. Matters against Hunter are listed for mention this Friday. His bail is extended.