The
quashing of the jail sentence for a man who bashed about two dozen seals
to death sends the message that animals do not matter, SPCA says.
Jason Trevor
Godsiff, 20, from Renwick near Blenheim, had his two-year jail sentence
reduced to eight months' home detention on appeal, the Marlborough
Express reported.
The bodies of 25 bashed seals, some
of them pups, were discovered in November last year at the Ohau Point
seal colony near Kaikoura.
Godsiff admitted bashing them with a galvanised metal pole.
High
Court judge Jillian Mallon quashed the two-year prison sentence because
the original sentencing judge had not given enough credit for his
youth, good character and remorse and guilty plea.
SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said the reduced sentence was "hugely disappointing".
"Anybody
that can brutally kill animals like that with such disregard for their
suffering, there are a lot of question marks around that person," she
told NZ Newswire.
There were well-known links between cruelty to animals and violence against humans, she said.
Last year's incident was a wanton attack in which the seals had been bashed and left to die, she said.
The court's decision sent the message that "animals do not matter".
However, it could turn out that his community would judge him, she said.
"That
community can say that's not OK, that's what's being done with child
abuse, people are no longer turning a blind eye to it."
NZN