Lover in dog cage charge is dropped
A man has been cleared of attacking his ex after claims he locked her in a dog cage were abandoned.
Garry Rodie, 29, appeared on trial at Ayr Sheriff Court last week for seriously assaulting Geraldine McEwan, keeping her in a cage and demanding she eat like a dog.
A jury found him not guilty of an altered charge of repeatedly punching and kicking her head and body, seizing her by the body, striking her to the head causing severe injuries and permanent impairment.
Earlier in the trial the prosecutor dropped accusations that Rodie had caged Ms McEwan for a prolonged period of time, bathed and dressed her and ordered her to eat food like a dog.
Breaking down in tears the pregnant mum- of- three told the court: “He is an animal.
“He should not be allowed out.”
Under questioning from defence advocate John McElroy she said: “I’m not lying. “I don’t care what you say. “He assaulted me. I would not be sitting here if he didn’t.”
The mum accused Rodie of punching her and breaking her cheek on one occasion. Rodie denied all of the accusations and the court heard that Ms McEwan had fabricated the story.
Mr McElroy said Ms McEwan couldn’t even remember whether she had broken her right or left cheek.
He asked her whether she had sustained the injury when junkies turned up at her door and a fight broke out.
Mr McElroy put it o Ms McEwan that his client was good to her.
She said: “After he gave me a kicking he was like ‘ darling I’ll get you this and buy you that.’” Mr McElroy accused her of telling lies to try and prevent the child she was expecting being taken off her. Mr McElroy questioned whether Ms McEwan took responsibility for anything.
Ms McEwan replied: “I take responsibility for going with him.
“I should never have gone near him.”
The court heard Ms McEwan used to struggle with heroin addiction from an early age and smoked cannabis daily.
The prosecution dropped many of the accusations against Rodie who appeared from custody.
He was found not guilty by majority of repeatedly punching and kicking her and striking her head on various occasions between January 1, 2010 and March, 31 2013 at Mill Street in Ayr.