Animal cruelty case closer to resolution

After more than two dozen court appearances over 16 months, a man accused of animal cruelty may finally resolve his case when he returns to court in October.

“It is essentially for disposition,” Lethbridge lawyer Claudia Connolly said Thursday during a brief hearing in Lethbridge provincial court, where she acted as agent for the accused’s lawyer.

Tyler Marshall is charged under the Animal Protection Act with causing animals to be in distress and failing to provide them with proper care.

The charges stem from an action by the Alberta SPCA April 24, 2017 when it seized 131 dogs, 62 rabbits, eight cats and three tortoises from a property in the village of Milo in Vulcan County.

The Crown and defence have been discussing resolution of the charges since at least last October, yet the matter has been in court and adjourned numerous times without any further steps. During a hearing in December court was told the Crown and defence were working on an agreed statement of facts, which typically arise from resolution discussions, and refer to specific circumstances of the case which are agreed upon by both sides and may result in a guilty plea by an accused to either the original charges or lesser but related charges.

Although the matter has repeatedly been adjourned since then, it appears an end may be in sight.

“We are working toward a possible resolution of the matter,” Crown prosecutor Bruce Ainscough assured the judge.

The case is scheduled to return to court Oct. 5.