3 in animal cruelty case miss their court date

THECASE against two circus owners and an employee from Brian Boswell Circus has again failed to get under way after the three accused failed to arrive at the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court.

Jane Boswell, her daughter, Georgina, and elephant handler David Marais, are facing a string of charges for allegedly beating, chaining, confining and not providing sufficient water and shade to elephants between December 2012 and January 2013.

For the second time, the three accused did not appear in court because of prior work commitments in Pretoria. Magistrate Esti Petzer warned all three to be present at their next court date.

They are facing charges which relate to the contravention of the Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962.

In 2013, the National Council of SPCA laid criminal charges against Brian Boswell Circus for the alleged abuse of elephants at Walmer West Primary School in Port Elizabeth. The school later withdrew permission for the circus to use its grounds.

Video footage, which aired on the television programme Carte Blanche in 2013, showed elephants chained, exposed to heat for hours and beaten with sticks.

A source close to the case told African News Agency that elephant handlers seen on the video footage were apparently fired and had disappeared.

All three accused are out on warning.

The case was postponed until March 30.