Brooks Animal Law Digest

Following the pre-trial proceedings in the case of the so-called Excelsior Four, prosecutors have stayed criminal charges of mischief and break and enter against Geoff Regier, one of the four accused. Mr. Regier had brought an application arguing an abuse of process on the part of law enforcement after he came forward as a whistleblower with evidence of animal cruelty and was himself turned over to police. In July 2019, Regier provided footage obtained inside Excelsior Hog Farms to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) in hopes that they would investigate Excelsior hog farm. The BC SPCA turned the footage over to local police, who investigated and charged Regier for the manner in which the footage was obtained. Excelsior was not charged in relation to the pig suffering caught on camera. Regier alleged that sharing his identity with police seemed to contradict the BC SPCA’s practices, as their website suggests that reporting animal cruelty is confidential. Although the judge rejected Regier’s application, prosecutors nonetheless chose to stay the charges against him shortly after. The three remaining accused, Amy Soranno, Roy Sassano, and Nick Schafer, are set to begin a four-week criminal trial on June 27th, 2022. Read the Excelsior4 media release here.

Following a three-week trial, two of the #Excelsior4 activists, Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer, were found guilty of break and enter and mischief, while the third remaining individual of the #Excelsior4 group, Roy Sasano, was acquitted on a single mischief charge. (See earlier stories: Issue 11, Litigation Updates; Issue 12, Litigation Updates; Issue 16, Spotlights, Litigation Updates; Issue 19, Spotlights, Litigation Updates). A distressing video of a large pig corpse and dead piglets released by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ignited the 2019 protest at a Fraser Valley Pig Farm in British Columbia. PETA stated that the video was provided anonymously and was reportedly filmed at Excelsior hog farm. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which currently investigates and enforces cases of animal cruelty, did not recommend charges against the Abbotsford farm operators, stating that they could not reach any legal conclusions that an offence occurred, even though what was depicted raised concerns. The jury deliberated for ten hours. After the verdict was issued, Sorrano and the lawyer who represented Nick Schafer, Bibhas Vaze, raised the issue of possible jury bias in favour of the prosecution and farm. Read the #Excelsior4 statement here and read more here. A written version of the judgment is not yet available. The sentencing date has been set for August 26th 2022. There are no mandatory minimum sentences for either offence, both of which carry the possibility of jail time. Soranno stated that she and Schafer are discussing the possibility of appeal with their lawyers.

For their role in direct action on Excelsior Hog Farm in Abbotsford in April 2019, British Columbia, activists Amy Soranno, Nick Schafer, Roy Sasano, and Geoff Regier - known as The Excelsior 4 - are facing twenty-one combined criminal charges. The pre-trial hearings will take place March 28th to April 8th, and the trial is scheduled for June 27th to July 21st. Ahead of the pre-trial hearings on March 28th, Soranno made a public statement which included calling attention to their prosecution while Excelsior continues to face no legal consequences for alleged animal cruelty, labeling this a “mockery of justice.” Read more here and visit #TheExcelsior4 website here.

For their roles in activism at Excelsior Hog Farm in 2019, Amy Soranno, Nick Schafer, and Roy Sasano face a combined fourteen indictable charges of break and enter and criminal mischief (see Issue 12, Litigation Updates). Jury selection was completed on June 25th and the four-week trial began on June 27th. Although a publication ban prevents comprehensive reporting on the case, Amy Soranno shared an Instagram post criticizing the first week of proceedings, including the disappearance of video evidence, improper warrants obtained by police, the judge ruling that the treatment of the pigs at the farm is irrelevant, and failure of the Crown to disclose video evidence. See #Excelsior4 updates here, and read more here.

For their role in direct action on Excelsior Hog Farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia, activists Amy Soranno, Nick Schafer, Roy Sasano, and Geoff Regier - known as the Excelsior 4 - are facing twenty-one criminal charges. The Meat the Victims action occurred in April 2019, and sought to further expose the conditions on the farm following an exposé released by PETA. The prosecution is proceeding, with pre-trial hearing planned for March 28th to April 8th 2022, and trial scheduled for June 27th to July 21st 2022. Read more here.

Animal activists Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer were sentenced on October 12th to thirty days in jail and twelve months probation after being convicted by a jury of one count of break and enter and one count of mischief in connection to a sit-in they organized and lead at the Excelsior Hog Farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia. According to Animal Justice, this is the first known Canadian case in which peaceful animal advocates would be jailed for an act of non-violent civil disobedience. The two activists are appealing their sentence and plan to apply for bail, which, if granted, could result in a deferral of their sentences until the appeal is heard.