Five people are due to appear in court on 13 May to face charges relating to cruelty and neglect of 125 horses, ponies and donkeys.
James John Gray (05/09/63) of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Amersham, Buckinghamshire; Julie Gray (24/05/67) of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Amersham, Buckinghamshire; Jodie Gray (12/09/82) of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Amersham, Buckinghamshire; and Cordelia Gray (29/05/88) of Spindle Farm, Hyde Heath, Amersham, Buckinghamshire are due to appear at Banbury Magistrates Court at 10am on Tuesday 13 May.
They face 12 charges related to section 4 and section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and cover causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet the welfare needs of a total of 125 equines, removed between 4 and 12 January 2008.
A 15-year-old male, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will also be facing charges in connection with this case.
Mr Gray and the four co-defendants face 12 charges relating to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and cover causing unnecessary suffering to and failing to meet the welfare needs of a total of 125 equines. The pre-trial review for this case takes place at Oxford Magistrates on 28th April, however, it is unlikely that the case will actually come to court until later this year.
Judge overturns ruling to return donkeys and ponies to Spindles Farm. More to follow.
The petition has been closed as matter is going back to Court this afternoon at 1430 hours in front of the Deputy District Judge as decided at the Hearing last week.
http://www.gopetition.com/online/18321.html
We will post the results of this afternoons hearing as soon as we receive them.
A peaceful and dignified gathering of horse lovers is happening outside Oxford Magistrates Court, for 2.30pm Monday 14th April.
This gathering is to show support for the Amersham equines. Appropriate banners and placards are welcomed. Any like-minded people are welcome to join in, thereby showing their support for the equines.
The credibility of this gathering relies on it being peaceful and dignified throughout. Any other sort of behaviour would work to the detriment of the equines, so it is essential that those attending remain calm and dignified throughout the time they are in Oxford.
Address and contact details:
Address: Speedwell Street
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX1 1RZ
Phone: 01865 815922
Fax: 01865 243730
Directions (driving):
Take the A34 and follow signs for Oxford Park and Ride. From the North, use Peartree. From the South, use Redbridge.
Costs £1 per day to park, and £2.20 for the bus (off peak, £2.50 peak time).
You need the number 300 bus. Takes approx 10 mins, and there is a bus every 8-10 mins.
You need to get off at stop P1, near Speedwell Street. On getting off the bus, turn right and head towards Speedwell street (the police station will be on your right). Turn left onto Speedwell street, and the Magistrates Court is on your right hand side.
For those who would prefer to park in the city centre please use the following link:
Oxford map with car parks
Further info available at the Oxford homepage.
Re Fridays hearing at the High court in London: The case is being heard Monday 14th April at 2.30pm at Oxford Magistrates Court.
This is the application by JG’s legal team to have the 29 ‘pet’ equines returned to him immediately and the others sold at Henley-on-Arden on 3rd May, as per Judge Kainth’s original ruling. The RSPCA will be requesting that the equines remain in the care of the charities until after JG and family’s Court Case for cruelty and neglect charges.
The case has been referred back to the district judge as the High Court Judge didn’t feel he had juristiction to hear the case.
More news when we receive it.
