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Rosemary Ann Collen

Shamiso Dzingire Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO woman who allegedly poisoned six dogs with an insecticide, has been acquitted due to lack of evidence. Rosemary Ann Collen, 67, of Douglasdale suburb who pleaded not guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal was acquitted by Bulawayo Magistrate Marylene Mtshina after the state failed to prove its case.

In passing the judgment, Mtshina said the State failed to prove that Collen unreasonably or by any act of commission caused the unnecessary suffering of the said dogs.

“Accordingly, I find the accused not guilty and acquitted on the basis that the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt,” said Mtshina.

In her defence, Collen maintained that she applied Methomyl 90sp in a feather pit to control breeding flies and not to kill the dogs that strayed into her yard.

She also said that her premises are fenced and the dogs dug holes under the fence to gain access.

For the State, Kudakwashe Jaravaza, told the court that on May 28 this year at around 10AM, Collen administered a poisonous insecticide, Methomyl 90sp in a rubbish pit which is at her place of residence.

“During that period, six dogs, four belonging to Ephraim Mabika of the same suburb and two to Mavis Sitsha of Hope Fountain farm, went and fed at the pit. By so doing, the dogs consumed the chemical,” Jaravaza said.

The court heard that as a result, five of the poisoned dogs died and one is still sick due to the poisoning.