Sheep shot and killed
Charleston, SC (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Nov 8, 1997
County: Charleston

Disposition: Acquitted

Persons of Interest:
» Willie Cole Fesperman - Dismissed
» Alvin Martin
» Edward Leon - Dismissed

Three men accused of shooting and slaughter of pregnant ewe and her 18-month old offspring. Willie Cole Fesperman, Alvin Martin and Edward Leon appeared before Charleston County Magistrate Brian Rawl. Rawl found Martin innocent of intent to cause malicious injury to an animal. The same charges were dropped against Fesperman and Leon.

But, the three offered a verbal apology to their neighbor, Wayne J. Hahn.

Fesperman paid Hahn $500 during an out-of-court settlement.

The sheep had been skinned and butchered and were believed to have been in the neighbors' freezers shortly after the shooting. The men told Rawl that the meat was given to a needy family.
A James Island man said he has forgiven three men who were charged in connection with the slaughter of his pregnant ewe and her 18-month-old offspring, but thinks there's more to the story than they admit. Willie Cole Fesperman, Alvin Martin and Edward Leon, all of Woodland Shores Road, appeared before Charleston County Magistrate Brian Rawl Tuesday. Rawl found Martin innocent of intent to cause malicious injury to an animal.

Willie Cole Fesperman, Alvin Martin and Edward Leon, all of Woodland Shores Road, appeared before Charleston County Magistrate Brian Rawl Tuesday. Rawl found Martin innocent of intent to cause malicious injury to an animal.

The same charges were dismissed against Fesperman and Leon.

But the three offered a verbal apology to their neighbor, Wayne J. Hahn.

Fesperman paid Hahn $500 during an out-of-court settlement, according to Carol Linville, president of Pet Helpers and the woman who represented Hahn. She said charges were dismissed against Leon because there was no evidence he shot the sheep.

Hahn and Linville said Martin claimed he shot the younger sheep - only after Fesperman did - because he wanted to put it out of its misery. Hahn isn't sure he believes that.

"If it was a mercy killing, I don't have a problem, but I don't think that's what it was," Hahn said.

The sheep had been skinned and butchered and were believed to have been in the neighbors' freezers shortly after the shooting. The men told Rawl that the meat was given to a needy family.

References

• Charleston SC Post & Courier - January 7, 1998

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