ONE of three men accused of abusing baby elephants from the Tuli block in Botswana was on Monday acquitted on four charges of contravening the Animal Protection Act.
Craig Saunders appeared with Ricardo Ghiazza and Henry Wayne Stockigt in the Pretoria Regional Court. They had earlier pleaded not guilty to allegations that they abused the elephants from September 1998 to May 1999 on Ghiazza?s property, Africa Game Services.
Gideon Scheepers, Saunders? advocate, on Monday asked the court to discharge his client as there was no evidence that he was the owner of the elephants or in possession of them in the time of the alleged abuse.
Saunders endangered himself during one incident to protect the animal from hurting itself against a steel railing. He acted out of need and care for the animal, Scheepers said.
Magistrate Adriaan Bekker agreed with him that the State?s version in fact supported Saunders? defence and acquitted him on all charges.
Ghiazza and Stockigt are expected to apply for discharge on Wednesday. – Sapa