New features are coming soon. Login with Facebook to get an early start and help us test them out!
CONVICTED: Was justice served?
more information on voting
When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.
Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "People’s Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isn’t enough.
Case #16176 Rating: 2.0 out of 5
Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: William Campbell
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A 25-year-old process worker has indicated he will plead not guilty to animal cruelty charges he faces after allegedly using an ageing dog as bait in a dog fight.
William Kain Campbell, from Porirua, faced 16 charges in Porirua District Court on Tuesday after being arrested for allegedly stealing a 14-year-old ridgeback-cross last week.
The dog, named Lincoln, suffered serious injuries after being mauled by pit-bulls.
The charges Campbell faced related to stealing a dog, animal fighting, not providing treatment for injuries suffered by the dogs and training a dog specifically for fighting purposes.
Campbell is due to reappear in court on July 1 for a status hearing.
Case Updates
A Porirua man has been handed the country's first ever jail term for dog fighting.
William Campbell stole an elderly dog earlier this year and used him as bait in a dogfight.
Fifteen-year-old Lincoln the dog was nearly killed after he was brutally savaged by a pit-bull terrier.
Campbell was jailed for 10 months. Judge Geoffrey Ellis, the sentencing judge, called the fight sickening.
"This is sickening brutality of the worst kind on an animal."
The judge spoke of how Campbell tried to dislocate Lincoln's legs to make him easier prey for his fighting dog.
He then struck Lincoln with a collar and chain.
Janet Cuthers, Lincoln's owner, says she is relieved Campbell has been jailed.
"Since the incident and until now its been pretty hard on me ... just the care of Lincoln and making sure he is alright and knowing that William Campbell is out there, is he going to try and do it again, is he going to try and get Lincoln?"
Campbell has also been banned for life from ever owning another animal.
Cuthers says Lincoln has recovered from the mauling but still needs medicine costing $50 a week.
She says she is glad his tormentor will be doing time behind bars. |
Source: TVNZ - Dec 10, 2009
Update posted on Feb 16, 2010 - 11:17PM |
References