Some good news in a bad news week

[JanetGeorge]

Charges against Julian Barnfield - the popular Heythrop huntsman - have been dropped following the earlier High Court ruling.

And charges against Otis Ferry (and others) for alleged 'witness nobbling' are also to be dropped - due to apparent 'inconsistencies' in the witness's evidence. The original charges remain - although the judge has enquired how they will determine which part of the witness's evidence can considered consistent.

 

[combat_claire]

Excellent news on both counts, our gratitude should be extended to Tony Wright who went through two years of hell and numerous court appearances that resulted in the Hunting Act being holed beneath the water.

 

[joe_carby]

with all these false allegations and inconsistencies (spelling) been brought to our attention it is surely now our job to get behind anyone who needs our help spread the word and lets get this ridiculous ban revoked

 

[peakpark]

Otis Ferry was refused bail and was in prison awaiting trial for several months. I can't help thinking this was political and was ordered by some Labour big cheese - they haven't forgiven him for getting into the Houses of Parliament.

 

[joe_carby]

hear hear peakpark im under the same view im afraid funny how it was over xmas aswell the hunting communitys biggest time.

 

[peakpark]

If the case is dropped entirely will Otis be entitled to any compensation?

 

[combat_claire]

Bloody well ought to, under his bail conditions he wasn't able to set foot in Shropshire and so hasn't been able to see or hunt his hounds for the season.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

We saw him in Warwickshire just after he'd been let out. Thankfully, despite not being allowed back to Shrops, people were looking after him extremely well and he did a lot of visiting other packs. He's nothing like I expected him to be - quiet and a bit shy. He was, however, totally obsessive about his hounds - I did expect that!!

 

[joe_carby]

i didnt know that last bit thats awful poor bloke i get withdrawl symptoms if i dont get to hunt for a week and see the hounds never mind a full season

 

[combat_claire]

I'm also hearing from various sources in the West Country that the Devon & Somerset Staghounds prosecution has been dropped.

 

[zigzagzig]

Excellent news that Otis is out and about. He's a harmless enough guy but a PR disaster for hunting. If you support hunting and know Otis, have a quiet word in his ear and advise him to disappear from public view.

 

[Eagle_day]

Perhaps you could have a word with Penny Little in the same vein?

 

[combat_claire]

The two 'monitors' causing havoc at the Surrey Union have also been charged.

 

[zigzagzig]

I've literally never heard of Penny Little so, unlike our Otis, I doubt whether she's got a high enough profile to harm her cause.

 

[Eagle_day]

.. and yet you otherwise appear so well informed. Mind you, I would disown the spokesman of Protect our Wild Animals if I was on the side of the antis.

 

[JanetGeorge]

.. and yet you otherwise appear so well informed. Mind you, I would disown the spokesman of Protect our Wild Animals if I was on the side of the antis.

I suspect the mainstream anti organisations would like to disown POWA and Penny Little - and rather more effectively than they have tried to disown the gyrocopter pilot!

 

[zigzagzig]

".. and yet you otherwise appear so well informed. Mind you, I would disown the spokesman of Protect our Wild Animals if I was on the side of the antis."

You seem to be under the impression that I represent one of the anti organisations. I don't - I just represent myself. The first I heard about the existence of POWA was when that poor guy was killed.