Jemaal Peter Roy Large

Published on stuff.co.nz 31/10/2013

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/9343179/Seal-basher-sentenced-for-attack

A second seal basher involved in killing 23 protected seals on the Kaikoura Coast has been sentenced to eight months home detention and 200 hours community work.

Jemaal Peter Roy Large, 38, appeared in the Blenheim District Court for sentencing this morning, after judge Peter Hobbs found him guilty of wilfully ill-treating and killing fur seals in April 2010.

He found him not guilty of a further charge of wilfully ill-treating or killing eight seal pups because it could not be proven that they suffered.

His co-offender Jason Godsiff was convicted in 2011 after pleading guilty to a charge of wilful ill-treatment of animals, and was also sentenced to eight months home detention, after an appeal reduced his initial sentence of two years in prison.

Judge Hobbs said he could not justify treating Large any different to Godsiff, as there was little, or no difference in their offending.

”I accept that your protestations of remorse are genuine…it seems to me your actions were driven by ignorance and an unfortunate misguided view,” he said.

Judge Hobbs told the court how the two were driving to Marlborough after working in Christchurch discussing the proliferation of seals on the coast.

They stopped their vehicle and used head-lights to see the seals in the dark, which they bashed with galvanised steel pipes.

Department of Conservation partnership manager Dave Hayes said the department was pleased to see two people convicted for the cruelty.

These were callous, abhorrent and premeditated attacks, Mr Hayes said.”That sends a strong message that it’s illegal to kill or even harm native wildlife, such as native fur seals.”