PETA Worker Apologizes for Dumping Animals in North Carolina By SAMUEL SPIES Posted: Feb. 1 12:12 p.m. Updated: Today at 12:55 a.m. WINTON, N.C. — Jurors hearing the case against two animal rights workers accused of animal cruelty expected to begin deliberating Friday after more than a week of testimony. Superior Court Judge Cy Grant said closing arguments would come Friday in the case against Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook, two employees of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA. The pair were arrested after police said they dumped dead animals into a trash bin in Hertford County, about 130 miles northeast of Raleigh. Hinkle and Cook testified Thursday they euthanized the animals in the back of their van to relieve some animals' suffering and reduce overcrowding at local animal shelters. They had each faced 21 felony counts of animal cruelty until Grant reduced those charges Thursday to eight misdemeanor counts. The judge said prosecutors failed to prove malice, a necessary element of the felony charge. The pair also each face a misdemeanor littering charge, and Hinkle faces three felony charges for obtaining property by false pretenses. Hinkle testified Thursday that she never promised the shelters that animals would not be euthanized. If convicted, Hinkle could receive up to 8 months in jail on each of the felony counts. The misdemeanor charges carry a 45-day suspended sentence, with a period of probation. "We're obviously relieved that most of the felonies have been reduced," said Kathy Guillermo, a PETA spokeswoman from Modesto, California "These are two people who have dedicated their lives to helping animals." Hinkle, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Cook, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, were arrested in June 2005 after police said they saw the PETA volunteers dump several bags of dead animals in a bin behind a grocery store. Police said they found more dead animals in the pair's van. Hinkle expressed regret for dumping the carcasses, testifying Thursday that she did so only after the smell became so strong it was hard to drive back to Virginia. They were supposed to take the dead animals back to PETA's offices in Norfolk. Local shelter officials testified they were unaware that PETA planned to euthanize most of the animals it picked up, though a PETA official later told jurors she told county officials of the policy. Hinkle is on administrative leave from PETA. Cook still works for the organization in another capacity. :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
Your highlighted text is exactly what I don't understand about all of this. I thought that PITA was completely against the animal being killed. :?:
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/ http://www.petakillsanimals.com/petaTrial2.cfm (warning, contains pics of dead animals) Some of the animals they killed were PUPPIES! :-( Why wouldn't puppies be adoptable????? :evil:
Hey me too! God forbid the shelter kills them, just give the animals to PETA and they'll kill em? :roll: :roll: :roll:
To be honest, I think it is proof that PITA has lost direction. Their goals are fine ones, but their methods are not.
That reminds me, were you at the draft house last Friday night? Non smoking section??? I thought I saw you but wasn't sure. Didn't want to get beat up by anyone! :shock:
