Pair fined for animal cruelty

Couple's sons accused of cop shooting

IN COURT: Graeme Thomas Smith and his wife, Gilliam Mary Smith, leave court after appearing on animal cruelty charges in May.

ON BAIL: Steven Smith.

IN COURT: Christopher Graham Smith, when appeared in the Christchurch District Court, and, inset, at the time of his arrest.

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LATEST: Neglecting treatment for 14 cats with eye infections and respiratory diseases has cost a Christchurch couple $1600.

In the Christchurch District Court today sickness beneficiary Graeme Thomas Smith and his wife Gillian Mary Smith, both 56, were convicted and sentenced on charges of failing to ensure 14 of their cats received treatment to alleviate any unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.

Veterinarian Ross Blanks told the court 14 of the Smiths' cats were suffering from a combination of ulcerated eyeballs, eye discharge, turned-in eyelids, opaque eyes, nasal discharge and respiratory diseases.

The animals could have been treated with surgery and antibiotics, he said, but were put down because they were suffering pain, no one was offering to pay for their treatment and they were contagious.

At the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (SPCA) request, Blanks assessed 18 of the cats on the property in December. Fifteen were removed for further examination.

Giving evidence SPCA inspector Aroha Kerr said she estimated the Smiths had between 40 and 50 cats on their property, of which a number were unwell, when she first visited on December 1 last year.

She said she could see the couple were making an effort with the cats' care, but when she spoke to them about the ill animals, they became aggressive.

Kerr said she visited the property two more times that month - the last time, December 7, with a search warrant and Blanks.

The Smiths, who represented themselves, declined to give evidence, however, Gillian Smith told the court they had collected stray and unwanted cats for many years.

"We have spent thousands [of dollars on our cats] at the vet and we love our cats,'' she said.

They couple, who still had between 30 and 35 cats, were treating the ill cats with medication they had from their veterinarian, they said.

Judge Jane Farish said it was clear the "well meaning'' Woolston couple did not ill-treat the animals, but failed to understand the significance of the animals' suffering and how contagious they were.

"They don't appear to be people who are ill-feeling ... towards cats,'' the judge said.

"Quite the opposite in fact.''

Judge Farish fined the Smiths $400 each. She also ordered them to pay vet fees of $170, witnesses expenses of $200 and $300 in legal costs.

COUPLE'S SONS ACCUSED OF COP SHOOTING

The Star reported that Graeme Thomas Smith and Gillian Mary Smith are the parents of Steven Paul Smith, 31 and Christopher Graeme Smith, 34 who were arrested on July 13 after two police officers were shot in Phillipstown.

After the incident, Steven Paul Smith was charged with cultivating cannabis, possession of cannabis, possession of a .22 bolt action, possession of a BSA 1901 Lee Enfield .303 rifle, possession of a firearm, and possession of a Remington 742 semi-automatic .243 rifle. He has been remanded on bail for further appearance.

His brother, Christopher Graeme Smith, was charged with attempting to murder the police officers, killing police dog Gage, using a firearm against a third policeman, unlawful possession of an offensive weapon - a pig knife - and cultivating cannabis, unlawful possession of a Stirling .22 semi-automatic rifle, a .22 bolt-action rifle and a Mauser 6.55mm rifle, possession of cannabis and using a firearm against a fourth police officer. He was remanded to a status hearing on August 10.

Senior Constable Bruce Lamb and Constable Alatolo had been making a routine housecall looking for a psychiatric patient when they smelt cannabis at their property in Buccleugh St.

Upon entering the house, both officers were shot. Police dog Gage was also shot and died at the scene.

- © Fairfax NZ News