Before the jury left for the day, Judge Kerr warned them not to speak to family members about the trial or do any research on social media about the case or the defendant.
Before the jury left for the day, Judge Kerr warned them not to speak to family members about the trial or do any research on social media about the case or the defendant.
Samuel Ernest Cooper , of Derryleckagh Row in Newry, was previously arraigned and denied a total of 17 charges. He pleaded not guilty to ten counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals, four of failing to hold a carcass, two counts of failing to have bovine animals tested and one of failing to keep a record of medicines.
According to court papers, the offences are alleged to have been committed on cows and sheep on dates between December 1, 2022 and May 19, 2023. Following the swearing in of the jury panel of seven men and five women at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Gordon Kerr KC told them: "It is alleged by the prosecution in this case that Mr Cooper committed acts of animal cruelty or neglect.
"It is important that any juror deciding the case must do so solely on the evidence they will hear in court without sympathy for or prejudice to any party in the case. '' Prosecution counsel Kate McKay told the jury the case against the defendant revolved around causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
She said the main prosecution witnesses they would hear from during trial were vets from the Department of Agriculture who look after farm animals and police officers who investigated the neglect allegations.
"As well as hearing from the witnesses you will also see some video evidence which will depict what we say amounts to animal cruelty and unnecessary suffering,'' she added. Defence counsel Sean Devine said the jury may hear evidence from one individual from the Newry area called as a witness in respect of Cooper.
"Please do not do that as any juror who does that would be quite obviously trying to seek information which is not evidence in the trial and this would be contrary to your oath and the court has to take a very serious view of anyone who does that,'' said Judge Kerr. He told the jury to return tomorrow morning when the prosecution will formally open the Crown case against the defendant and call its first witnesses.
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