Tag: Ralph Hahnheuser

Criminal Proceedings Move Forward Against Ralph Hahnheuser

After numerous delays, an Australia court found there was sufficient evidence to move forward with a criminal trial against animal rights activist Ralph Hahnheuser. Hahnheuser is accused of adding pork products to the feed of a shipment of sheep intended for the Middle East.

Hahnheuser has admitted that he did so, but nonetheless told the Australian court that he plans to plead not guilty to the charges.

The statute Hahnheuser is being charged under requires that the government show he spiked the feed in order to cause an economic loss through public awareness. Hahnheuser maintains his client was only motivated by the welfare of the sheep and did not intend to cause an economic loss to those shipping the sheep.

The next scheduled hearing in the case is on July 26.

Source:

Protestor to stand trial over sheep contamination. ABC News Online, April 23, 2004.

Animal liberationist on trial. The Standard (Australia), April 24, 2004.

Australian Activists Goes to Court Over Interference With Animal Export

Ralph Hahnheuser, who has for years been a spokesman for Australian animal rights group Animal Liberation (SA), appeared in court in January to answer charges of contaminating the feed of sheep intended for export.

Hahnheuser was arrested on November 20 after he added ham to a feedlot used by 70,000 sheep intended for export. Most of the sheep were intended to export to Middle Eastern countries where there are strong religious taboos against eating pork.

In interviews, Hahnheuser has said he is proud of his actions which he says were necessary to highlight issues surrounding live export of animals. In November he told the Sunday Mail,

This is the action we needed to have in relation to live exports. It’s drawn international attention. It’s going to be fascinating what the courts make of all of this.

Well, under Australian law knowingly feeding animal products to sheep or cattle is punishable by a fine of up to $24,000 and/or two years in jail. So, given that Hahnheuser readily admits his actions, it would seem likely that the courts will make swift work of it. At his court appearance, the prosecutor in the case told the court it would seek $1.4 million in compensatory damages.

Hahnheuser is not stranger to legal problems, having been involved in at least 10 criminal or civil cases over the years by his own admission.

Sources:

I’m no economic terrorist. Chris Pippos, Sunday Mail (South Australia), November 30, 2003.

This act of sabotage costing $50,000 a day. Alison Rehn, The Advertiser (Australia), November 21, 2003.

Sheep trade activist in court. Eve Lamb, The Standard (Australia), January 8, 2004.