The trial of three gamekeepers from the Morvich Estate, Sutherland, has once again been postponed. This is the 8th adjournment since the case was first brought in November 2012.
The three defendants, Mathew Johnston (21), Jamie Neal (37), and William Docharty (58) are charged with a string of wildlife crimes alleged to have taken place on Morvich Estate on 16 February 2012.
Their trial was due to start on Monday (16th December 2013) but has now been put back until 7th April 2014 – more than two years after the alleged offences occurred.
Thanks to the contributor who sent in a copy of the following article from yesterday’s Press & Journal:
Estate trio on wildlife charges.
Three north estate workers face trial next year accused of committing a string of wildlife offences on a sporting estate in Sutherland.
Mathew Johnston, 21, Jamie Neal, 37, and William Docharty, 58, were not present at Tain Sheriff Court yesterday when their case called.
All three pleaded not guilty through solicitors. The case had been due to go to trial next week but was postponed to next year at the request of the court. The trial is now due to start on April 7 [2014].
All the charges are alleged to have taken place on Morvich Estate, Sutherland, on February 16 last year [2012].
Johnston, of Morvich House, Morvich Estate, Rogart, faces four charges. These include that he set six snares on a fence which would have caused an animal unnecessary suffering as any creature caught would likely have become suspended from the contraption.
Neal, of The Bothy, Morvich Estates, faces the same charge involving seven snares.
Docharty, of 10, Elizabeth Court, Dornoch, faces a similar charge involving two snares set on a log over water which would likely cause any animal trapped to be suspended from the log and drown.
Johnston is further alleged to have been in possession of a dead barnacle goose and to have failed to dispose of three sheep carcases in an appropriate manner.
Neal faces four further charges including two alleging that he failed to provide a suitable environment for nine crows by not providing food and water, a perch and adequate shelter.
For previous blogs about this case please see here.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Anybody like to make a bet that this case gets thrown out eventually? It’s about time these sheriffs were put on trial themselves for making a mockery of the so-called justice system and wasting valuable public money.
I have to confess that I’m not terribly knowledgeable about the practical workings of the judicial system overall. Given the oft claimed independence required by the judiciary does that mean it is not open to scrutiny when it comes to matters of cost associated with proceedings and the implications for the public purse?. Surely the Value for Money principle must apply somewhere given it’s part of public service? On matters like this, not sentencing or the law itself, who would preside over such scrutiny? Any ideas and who one might complain to?
Par for the course with the criminal justice system. Badly needs a wipe out and a re-organisation. To use a phrase in common parlance – “not fit for purpose”.
Once again it seems to those of us sitting on the sidelines that the untouchables will get off with Criminal activity, what is it!. I was already sad when I read the following statement by Martin Harper earlier on this evening on another blog
“the majority of consultees, including the RSPB, were in favour of the introduction of vicarious liability in England and Wales, the Law Commission has recommended an alternative version of extending criminal liability that we fear will be ineffective”
A couple of words spring to mind that I can actually use on this blog “ BENT “ and “CORRUPT”
Oh for a revolution, French style and hang the the lot of the twisted bastards