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Court affirms horse cruelty convictions Thursday, May 8, 2008 Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - An Ashdown woman's conviction on four counts of cruelty animals and $4,000 fine was upheld by the state Court of Appeals Wednesday. A Little River County jury convicted Susan Whitman of abusing four Arabian horses. Along with the fine, she was sentenced to one year's probation. In her appeal, Whitman argued there was not enough evidence to support her conviction, and that the judge abused his discretion when he allowed prejudicial evidence detailing the condition of her dogs and her home. In a unanimous decision, the appeals court said introduction of the evidence did not unfairly prejudice Whitman's case. Even if the circuit court had abused its discretion by introducing the evidence, any such error would be harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in light of extensive veterinary evidence presented by the state concerning the condition of the horses, the court said. Whitman was charged with cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, in 2005 after the county sheriff and an animal rights group went to her home to talk to her about numerous animal abuse complaints. Twenty-seven dogs and 27 horses on her property were seized. |
