Thurgau ex-veterinary chief denies guilt in animal welfare case
Published: Tuesday, Feb 20th 2024, 16:50
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The lawyer for the former Thurgau cantonal veterinarian accused in the Hefenhofen TG animal welfare case has demanded an acquittal in court. His client is accused of a state failure for which, however, numerous cantonal authorities are responsible.
On the third day of the trial in the Hefenhofen animal welfare case against the former head of the veterinary office, his defense lawyer argued that the entire Thurgau authority was overwhelmed by a notorious troublemaker.
The lawyer rejected the accusations of the public prosecutor's office that the former cantonal veterinarian had done nothing to combat animal welfare violations despite known abuses on the farm in Hefenhofen. Rather, the cantonal councillor responsible at the time had tried to improve the situation with the animal owner in question by de-escalating the situation. The latter was said to be unruly and prone to violence.
According to the lawyer, this strategy was supported at meetings by the numerous agencies involved, such as the agricultural office, the public prosecutor's office, the environmental office and the legal service of the responsible department. There was also a lack of support from the cantonal police to enforce a ban on keeping animals.
In addition, the government council would have been afraid of the costs of clearing the farm, which it estimated at 700,000 francs due to the large number of animals. His client could therefore not be convicted of inaction, the lawyer continued. He presented him as the victim of a state failure.
Conditional prison sentence demanded
In 2017, images of emaciated and dead horses on a farm in Hefenhofen shocked the public. After media pressure, the authorities finally cleared the farm and auctioned off 93 horses.
The public prosecutor demanded a conditional prison sentence of 18 months against the then cantonal veterinarian. The public prosecutor's office accuses the accused of having known about various abuses on the farm for years and remaining inactive.
Immunity for councillors
According to the public prosecutor's office, inspections had repeatedly revealed that the unruly horse breeder was not complying with a ban on keeping livestock that was already legally binding at the time.
Several times, emaciated animals, missing water, rotten bread and dirty stables were found. "Despite this knowledge, nothing was done," said the public prosecutor on the second day of the trial. However, the cantonal veterinarian would have been obliged to take measures and should at least have reported violations.
Court holds out prospect of judgment in a month
The former official veterinarian is accused of multiple counts of abuse of office, favoritism by omission, cruelty to animals by omission, damage to creditors and dishonest business management.
In addition to the former head of the Thurgau Veterinary Office, three other former employees of the Veterinary Office are accused. Their lawyers also pleaded for a full acquittal on Tuesday. Further trial days are planned for the trial. The verdict has been announced for March 19.
This legal investigation is based on criminal complaints filed by animal rights activists in 2017, including one against the cantonal councillor responsible. However, the office of the cantonal parliament rejected the necessary authorization for criminal proceedings against him; it saw political reasons behind the complaint.
Farmer acquitted of animal cruelty in first instance
In March 2023, the farmer from Hefenhofen stood before the Arbon District Court in separate proceedings for multiple counts of cruelty to animals, among other things. The court acquitted the former horse breeder of numerous charges.
Most of the "evidence" presented, with which the public prosecutor's office wanted to put the animal abuser with a criminal record behind bars for more than six years, could not be used, according to the ruling. The public prosecutor's office took the case to the high court, where it is pending.
In the lawsuit against the cantonal employees at the time, the horse breeder appears as a private plaintiff. He argues that the farm was cleared illegally and that his horses were auctioned off too cheaply. According to the indictment, he is demanding damages of 2.6 million francs.
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