Owners of Anne the circus elephant go on trial for animal cruelty

June 18, 2012

The Northamptonshire owners of a circus elephant called Anne are to go on trial charged with causing unnecessary suffering.

Bobby and Moira Roberts will go on trial at Corby Magistrates’ Court.

The couple are accused of keeping Anne, a 58-year-old elephant brought from Sri Lanka to the Bobby Roberts Super Circus in Peterborough in the 1950s, chained to the ground at all times.

They are also accused of failing to prevent an employee from repeatedly beating Anne.

The pair, of Brook Farm, Oundle, deny causing the elephant unnecessary suffering, failing to take reasonable steps to prevent an employee from causing unnecessary suffering and failing to ensure the elephant’s needs were met.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) took over the prosecution of Mr and Mrs Roberts from Animal Defenders International (ADI) “given the public concern over the case”.

The charges, brought under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, were originally the focus of a private prosecution by Animal Defenders International (ADI), a worldwide animal welfare organisation, following its undercover investigation and filming between January 21 and February 15.

But ADI’s legal representatives contacted the CPS, asking it to take over the prosecution, and Jan Creamer, ADI’s chief executive, has called it a landmark test case.

Arthritic Anne is now living at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire to see out her days in a 13-acre paddock, with her owners’ consent.

The trial is listed until Friday and will move to Kettering Magistrates’ Court from Tuesday on wards.

News Link:-http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/owners-of-anne-the-circus-elephant-go-on-trial-for-animal-cruelty-1-3963225