Small-town outrage explodes as man accused of killing his German shepherd is found not guilty
When a dog dies it usually produces tears of sadness. The death of Lady, a German shepherd that lived with her owner Tarrick Fakira-Martin, is producing tears of outrage. Charges filed against Fakira-Martin accuse him of unlawfully killing his dog. It was on those charges that he was acquitted by a judge who said there was no direct evidence that linked Fakira-Martin to his dog’s death.
How Lady died is up for debate
At issue was the manner of death. An autopsy had revealed that Lady had suffered from blunt force trauma to her skull and liver mere hours before her death. Her ultimate cause of death was by drowning as she tumbled down a steep embankment after she wandered away. She ended up in the river at the bottom of the embankment where she drowned.
Fakira-Martin claims Lady fell down an embankment and drowned
In Fakira-Martin’s defense, the justice said that Lady could have suffered the trauma to her body by hitting trees and rocks as she fell down the embankment. Another witness, Jennifer Curtis, testified that she had spoken to a crying and heartbroken Fakira-Martin following Lady’s death. Furthermore, he told her he had buried her after she had drowned.
The police investigate calls of concern for the dog’s welfare
Police responded to calls expressing concern for Lady’s welfare. Upon arriving and searching the area, they found her body in a shallow grave in a St. Thomas railyard. Fakira-Martin was arrested before his trial in regards to Lady’s death for breaching his bail conditions in an unrelated case.
Protestors in the courtroom were upset with the verdict
Also, in the courtroom were protesters who sobbed and shouted in outrage as Justice Glen Donald read his verdict. Some of the protesters shouted, “You’re still a killer,” and “Justice will be served.” For his part, Fakira-Martin became emotional as the protesters shouted at him.
Police officers then led the protesters out of the courtroom. Colette Dodds, one of the about 10 protestors in the courtroom had this to say about the verdict:
“I am so upset. This could have been different if that Crown (attorney) could have come up with the neglect. I’m so disappointed in our system. We need to make some drastic changes. We cannot be killing our animals,” she said. “I’d like to see harsher penalties.”
Fakira-Martin could be charged with abuse or neglect
The justice did hear evidence that indicated Lady had suffered from past abuse. Dr. Murray Hazlett, the veterinarian that had performed the autopsy on Lady, said she was malnourished before her death. He also stated that she had a previously broken leg that hadn’t healed properly.
Prosecutors suggested Fakira-Martin could still be charged with and found guilty of lesser charges of abuse or neglect. Justice Donald said that prosecutors should have included those charges in the original court case. That way testimony could have been heard specifically on those charges. Without doing so he said he couldn’t be expected to rule on those charges.
Activists want to make changes to current laws
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Considering the trial’s verdict, protestors are meeting with Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek to discuss introducing new legislation designed to protect animals, such as Lady, and better prosecute those who abuse them. The animal rights activists want to call it “Lady’s Law.”