Slaughter of Loxahatchee goats inhumane, prosecutor argues

The killing of two goats on a Loxahatchee farm last summer— capturedonvideo secretly recorded by an animal rights group — became the focus of a criminal trial Tuesday with the property owner battling four animal cruelty charges.

Using the videos and a veterinarian’s findings as key evidence, prosecutors argued Jorge Luis Garcia, 48, owner of Rancho Garcia farm, is responsible for the inhumane— and illegal — slaughtering of the animals.

“He allowed both goats to suffer,” Assistant State Attorney Judy Arco said of the animals being strung upside down alive before their throats were sliced with a knife and bled out. “It does matter on how it gets fromthe farm to your plate.”

But while Garcia declined to testify, his lawyer asked for an acquittal on the grounds that the footage fails to prove the goats suffered, and the undercover videos shot on private property violated Garcia’s rights.

“It’s humane,” defense attorney Andrew Stine said during his closing argument in his description of goat slaughter. “I can’t think of anything sharper than a knife. What else was he supposed to use? … The goat died immediately.”

Jurors deliberated for about 15 minutes before being dismissed for the day at 6 p.m. The panel of four women and two men will resume deliberations at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The jury also already asked to view the videos again.

Garcia, whose

farm,

along

with two others, was raided by authorities, was targeted by the Miamibased Animal Recovery Mission. Representatives of the organization took the secret videos — of people posing as consumers seeking to buy meat from fresh kills — prompting law enforcement officers to raid three farms Oct. 13.

Palm Beach Circuit

Judge

Sathe