Boswell Circus animal cruelty case back in court
Two circus owners and an employee from the well known Brian Boswell Circus will be back in the Port Elizabeth magistrate’s court on Tuesday on animal cruelty charges.
Last month, the court heard that investigations into the matter were complete and that the state was awaiting a decision from the Director of Public Prosecutions. A provisional trial date for the case is expected to be set on Tuesday.
Jane Boswell, her daughter Georgina, and elephant handler David Marais are facing a string of charges for allegedly beating, chaining, confining and not providing sufficient water and shade to elephants between December 2012 and January 2013.
The three are facing charges which relate to the contravention of the Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962. All three accused are out on warning.
In 2013, the National Council of SPCA laid criminal charges against the Boswell Circus for the alleged abuse of elephants whilst the circus was at Walmer West Primary School in Port Elizabeth.
The school later withdrew permission for the circus to use its grounds.
Video footage which aired on television programme Carte Blanche during 2013 showed elephants chained, exposed to heat for hours and beaten with sticks.
A source close to the case told the African News Agency (ANA) that elephant handlers seen on the video footage were apparently fired and had since disappeared.