NEWCASTLE WOMAN GIVEN 15-YEAR ANIMAL BAN AFTER BEATING PARTNER'S DOG TO DEATH
A woman from Newcastle has been handed a 15-year animal ban and a suspended sentence for beating her partner's dog to death.The body of Barney, a Jack Russell Terrier, was found at an address in Northbourne Street, belonging to the partner of Kasie Armstrong on October 2 last year.
He was later found to have suffered a series of injuries including a lacerated liver, and died from internal bleeding as a result.
The incident was reported to the RSPCA due to the suspicious nature of his death, and because of incriminating text messages between Armstrong and her partner, who owned him.
During the investigation, RSPCA Inspector Helen Bestwick was shown the body of Barney by a relative of Armstrong’s partner the day after the incident.
He was lying on a sofa, and she could see bruising and swelling on his body and blood around his mouth, with blood marks also evident on the sofa, floor, and radiator near his bed in the hallway.
Inspector Bestwick then took the body for a post-mortem examination which showed the extensive injuries the pet had suffered, resulting in his 'traumatic' death.
The post mortem reads as follows: "Rib fractures were confirmed and a fracture of the cheek bone was noted, coinciding with the scratch mark seen below the left eye.
"A liver laceration resulting in fatal internal bleeding was found to be the cause of death.
The injuries noted are consistent with non-accidental injury.
The dog had been subjected to blunt force trauma and or crush injuries resulting in broken bones and catastrophic internal bleeding.
"This could have been the result of a beating with or without an object kicking or stomping or a combination.
The force required to cause this level of trauma would have been significant and repeated.
This would have resulted in excruciating pain, significant fear and mental strain.
"It is my opinion, given the evidence on the dog’s body, that Barney suffered from immense trauma prior to death.
This trauma was non-accidental and likely malicious."
