Process under police protection
Rössli torturer from Hefenhofen TG will appear in court in March
More than 100 horses and numerous other animals lived on the farm of Ulrich K.* (53) in miserable conditions. Blick uncovered his machinations years ago. In March he finally has to answer in court.
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Ulrich K. kept animals on his farm in appalling conditions.
The animal owner Ulrich K.* (53) from Hefenhofen TG accused of being a “horse torturer” will appear in court in Arbon TG in March. The public prosecutor’s office demands a prison sentence of six and a half years for him for animal cruelty and numerous other offenses.
The main hearing begins on March 1, as the Arbon District Court announced on Monday. The oral verdict is scheduled for March 21st. The court hears the case under police protection.
Ulrich K. disregarded animal welfare regulations for years
Between September 2013 and the eviction of his farm in Hefenhofen TG on August 7, 2017, the farmer is said to have insufficiently cared for horses, sheep, goats, dogs, chickens, pigs and cattle, kept them in an inappropriate manner, transported them in violation of the regulations and killed them.
He is also accused of multiple threats to life, trespassing, document, defamation, road traffic and immigration law offenses, as the court writes. Along with the main defendant, four other people who played more supporting roles in the animal cruelty are on trial.
The public prosecutor’s office brought charges against the main accused animal owner last March. He is said to have disregarded animal welfare regulations, ignored orders and fooled the authorities for years. In August 2017, around 250 horses and other animals were confiscated from his farm.
What role did the veterinary office play?
90 horses were cared for by the army veterinary service in the canton of Bern and sold in several auctions. The Thurgau government admitted mistakes in dealing with the animal abuser. She set up an external commission chaired by former Zug government councilor Hanspeter Uster.
In their analysis, they came to the conclusion that in the Hefenhofen case, incorrect assessments and wrong decisions at various levels prevented effective enforcement of animal protection. In the meantime, the canton has reorganized the veterinary office and passed a new veterinary law to improve animal welfare.
In a separate process, the former Thurgau cantonal veterinarian will have to answer before the Frauenfeld District Court. The public prosecutor’s office accuses him of enforcing a ban on keeping animals ordered in 2013 against the repeatedly accused animal owner from Hefenhofen.
A year has passed: Torture court drama from Hefenhofen TG(01:25)
He is also said to have refrained from further measures against the animal abuser, carried out checks only after prior notification and ignored reports. Three other employees of the veterinary office are also accused in individual points. The presumption of innocence applies to all accused. (SDA/nad)
* Name known