LIHU‘E — A re-indicted 2010 case involving 16 counts of animal cruelty involving horses had its trial date moved to Feb. 25, 2013. Lara Butler-Brady was in 5th Circuit Court Thursday regarding 16 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty at her
LIHU‘E — A re-indicted 2010 case involving 16 counts of animal cruelty involving horses had its trial date moved to Feb. 25, 2013.
Lara Butler-Brady was in 5th Circuit Court Thursday regarding 16 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty at her former 165-acre Keapana Horsemanship riding stable in Hanama‘ulu.
Special Deputy Attorney General Sheri Lawson, and Defense attorney Craig De Costa presented motions to exclude evidence from the jury trial set to start Oct. 15. Both attorneys agreed to defer some of the motions but would require filing dates into December and so the trial date was rescheduled.
The motions regarded voluntariness and admissibility of statements, and alleged information regarding former staff members of Kaua‘i Humane Society.
The organization conducted the investigation and declared the horses emaciated which led to the 2010 indictment.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano agreed to the deferral but said he could not agree to Lawson’s motion for a firm set trial date. He said there are possible trials at that time and the court could not guarantee a trial date.
Valenciano presided over the original case and on March 8 recused the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for lack of transparency. A new indictment was filed by the Attorney General’s office in June.
Valenciano granted Butler-Brady’s motion to dismiss the case on May 15, after he ruled the state had failed to bring her to trial within the time allowed.
If found guilty Butler-Brady faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
The horses remain in protective custody at the KHS shelter in Puhi and on privately owned land.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
