IT has been revealed the Shire of Mundaring spent almost $93,000 on its unsuccessful prosecution against the owner of two dogs accused of killing and maiming 39 sheep in The Lakes in 2016.
Two Sox and Floyd were impounded by the Shire for 15 months over their alleged involvement in the attack.
A three-day criminal trial in the Perth Magistrates Court between the Shire and Simon Hey ruled on January 30 that lawyers acting on behalf of the Shire were unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr Hey’s dogs had committed the offence.
This was the third trial for the owners, after a mistrial was declared on December 29, 2016. The dogs were reunited with their owners in May 2017 after a second court hearing had to be re-scheduled because a key witness was unable to give evidence at the trial in Northam.
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READ NOWThe case sparked an independent review by the Shire on how it investigates and prosecutes dog attacks.
The Shire spent $62,400 on legal fees and were ordered to pay the Heys’ legal counsel $30,270 in costs bringing the total spent on the case to $92,670.