SPCA officer overcome by emotion at abuse trial

A SPCA officer became visibly emotional and had to stop his testimony when describing three horses that had to be euthanized after being seized from a northwestern New Brunswick farm in 2010.

The high-profile animal abuse trial of sisters Sandra and Beverly Tomalin concluded on Thursday in Grand Falls. The SPCA seized 38 horses from the farm in July 2010 after an animal protection officer received two complaints about the care of the animals

The sisters are accused of failing to provide adequate food and shelter to dozens of horses in their care.

David Lynch, a SPCA animal protection officer, told the court about the condition that he found the animals in after they were taken from the sisters' farm in Tilley.

Lynch led the team that seized the horses and he watched them while they were recovering at the provincial agricultural centre in Fredericton

"Some of the horses were so thin you could see their ribs, you could see their hip bones, their spines were protruding," he said.

Lynch became visibly emotional during his testimonyand he had to take a break when asked about the three horses, including the stallion, that had to be killed.

Thursday was also the first day that the sisters' lawyer could call witnesses to outline the defence's case.

Alvin Watson, a nearby farmer, said he farmed the Tomalin property for 15 years and was quite knowledgeable about the land.

He said there were four sources of spring-fed open water on the property where the animals could have drank from if they were thirsty.

He also said he was building a horse barn for the Tomalins.

Watsonsaid it would have been large enough to protect the 20 larger horses that would have been left after the Tomalin sisters sold off theiryounger horses.

If the sisters are found guilty of the charges, they could be fined between $500and $100,000 while also facing up to 18 months in jail.

The Tomalins have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The final arguments in the case will be submitted in writing to Judge Paul Duffie, who is expected to render a verdict in September.