Quantock Staghounds appeal adjourned

The Quantock Staghounds appeal, heard over three days last week in Taunton Crown Court, has been adjourned until Friday, 19 October.

Huntsman Richard Down and amateur whipper Adrian Pillivant were convicted of hunting in June this year. Their case hinged on the exemption of flushing a wild mammal using two dogs. The appeal was heard afresh and a judgement is expected on 19 October.

“The judgement is as important as the verdict, because hunts want to continue to manage the deer population in the south-west,” said the Countryside Alliance’s Tim Bonner. “The Quantock’s barrister has asked the judge 12 questions to be addressed in the judgement.

“We hope these will be answered, so we can properly understand what the courts make of the exemption.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (11 October, ’07)

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