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Fury at 'Chainsaw killer' ruling
24/07/2007 23:52 - (SA)
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| Incensed animal lovers wave placards showing their disgust with Phillip Matthysen, who decapitated his Husky puppy with a chainsaw. (Nardus Engelbrecht, Beeld) |
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Danel Blaauw, Beeld
Delmas - There were gasps of horror in the Delmas Magistrate's Court on Tuesday when animal rights activists heard graphic details of how Phillip Matthysen, 31, beheaded his Husky puppy with a chainsaw.
Minutes later, the shock turned to fury when the sentence of the "Delmas chainsaw killer" as he was referred to on placards, was suspended in full. Magistrate CE Moldenhauer sentenced Matthysen to 12 months in prison or a fine of R10 000.
The full sentence was conditionally suspended for five years.
The marketing consultant from Sundra admitted in a packed court C that he had committed the gruesome "murder" and said through his lawyer that he had sawn the dog's head off with the petrol-driven chainsaw in a fit of anger.
Matthysen committed the crime in February after his four-month-old pup chewed through a cable running to his security fencing, and killed an exotic parrot. 'Very irritated and
frustrated'
Matthysen said in his admission of guilt that he had been suffering from jet-lag after returning from London that morning.
When he saw the damage he was very irritated and frustrated, also having had transport problems. The deed was committed during an "unprecedented, temporary outburst of anger".
The court proceedings were temporarily suspended when Moldenhauer ruled that Matthysen immediately had to pay R5 000 to the Springs branch of the SPCA.
Matthysen was also declared unfit to own or handle a Husky, apart from the one that he already owns.
"I'm pleased to see that the court is full of people who care and who want to see that justice prevails," Moldenhauer said when he imposed the sentence. Can't be made a 'scapegoat'
"At the same time, although there are many cases of animal abuse, the court cannot make a scapegoat of you."
The State withdrew the case against Alex Serate, the second accused. Serate held the dog down during the macabre "murder". One animal lover, holding a stuffed toy husky dog, stormed out of the court in fury when Matthysen received what the activists termed a "ridiculous" sentence.
An earlier warning from Moldenhauer that he would charge them with contempt of court fell on deaf ears when the activists heard the gruesome details of the dog's suffering as the vet's report was read to the court.
The cream-coloured dog's neck was sawn from above, which meant that he could feel everything until he died. Tremendous pain
"It would have caused immediate and tremendous pain," Dr JH Moll wrote in his report.
"The dog was fully conscious and aware of pain until his spinal column was severed."
Matthysen's friends, family and lawyer were besieged outside the court with people waving placards, calling them "rubbish" and "dog murderers".
A Kempton Park psychiatrist said in his valuation of Matthysen on Monday that he'd found no signs of physical or psychiatric abnormality.
The crowd included supporters of the SPCA, Husky Rescue and Husky Justice. Petition with 115 998 signatures
Husky Justice handed a petition with 115 998 signatures to prosecutor Gustav Schult for submission to the court.
Afterwards, Jono Judelman, who founded the Husky Justice website to collect the signatures, told News24 that the magistrate let the plea of ordinary people "slide casually by".
"I think the magistrate has ignored society.
"In just 5 weeks, 115 000 ordinary people demanded that justice be done and that Matthysen be severely punished for his actions.
He noted that the magistrate had said it concerned him that Matthysen had walked over to the chainsaw, filled it with fuel and started it up.
"Clearly the inner workings of a logical and pre-meditated plan," said Judelman.
"I can only hope it's not someone else's pet or child the next time around." In terms of the sentence, Matthysen may never own a Husky again. But he can keep his other dogs. Husky Injustice
Judelman said it had been a day of Husky Injustice.
But, he added, there were many more fights to bring to the courts.
"And each time, we make our statement a little louder, until one day, the legislation which governs this country's ridiculous treatment of its animals, WILL change!" - Beeld/News24
- Beeld
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