Nanaimo court hears horrific case of bestiality in Qualicum Beach

Webber told court the offender was reported by his then wife to be under their backyard trampoline sexually abusing their dog, an elderly 18 kilogram, or 40 pound, shepherd mix.

She confronted him, with the offender initially denying he was sexually abusing the animal.

He had lubricant cream on his genitals at the time, while the dog had blood on its anus and the animal was covered in lubricant cream.

The wife requested he leave, and when he refused she called Oceanside RCMP.

Once officers arrived, the offender admitted to his actions, contending it was the first time he had taken those specific actions.

“He indicated that it wasn’t a big deal and that she shouldn’t involve the police,” Webber told the court. [The offender] met the officers in the driveway and spontaneously stated ‘I f**ked the dog.”

The offender told police he had consumed six beers prior to the offence and police observed him to be cooperative and coherent.

The complainant told police he appeared to be drinking during the day, transitioning from extremely calm to angry.

Police noticed the dog’s anus was swollen and covered in lubricant, while the lubricant bottle was found at the crime scene under the trampoline.

Webber stated there appeared to be a degree of planning the offence, pointing out the offender ensured his ex was inside the house and the lubricant was arranged.

A veterinarian report stated the dog showed signs of sexual abuse with sustained inflammation and trauma on its anus.

The Parksville-based vet noted upon initial exam the dog was visibly uncomfortable.

“The impact of psychological trauma will far exceed beyond the duration of the physical experience. It is important to consider the long-term impact of pain and suffering on an animal that has experienced the trauma of sexual abuse,” the vet report stated.

An examination of the animal contained the offender’s DNA. The dog eventually had to be put down.

The maximum penalty for bestiality when the Crown proceeds summarily is up to two years in a provincial jail and a $5,000 fine.

Victim impact
The ex wife of the accused, whom she shares two young children with, read out a prepared statement outlining the severe emotional fallout the incident has caused.

While addressing a packed court room divided by hers and the offender’s supporters, the woman who also can’t be identified in order to protect her children, said what occurred caused her constantly intrusive thoughts and uncontrollable vomiting.

“This has shattered my whole world. Knowing that this is even real has shaken my confidence and in people and that has caused me to feel extremely alone and scared. Simple tasks like going to the store have become a source of anxiety.”

With tears pouring down her face, the woman said following the offence she had family members stay over at her house for about six weeks out of fear the accused would return.

She expanded on the betrayal she felt when, with the police en-route, the offender said she ruined their lives by phoning police and she’d regret it.

“This left me with confusion as to why I’m the one who should feel guilty. I felt threatened. These feelings have not left my system, I re-live it my sleep and my day-to-day life…”

She said the evening of May 15, 2023 was like a real-life horror movie, and she’s undergoing weekly therapy sessions in a bid to move past the incident.

The complainant said the incident will result in repercussions lasting many years and perhaps decades.

She said their children will want to know why their father abruptly left their lives.

“I could never understand how something so horrific could take place anywhere, let alone at our family home with our children and myself inside of the home…”

The complainant’s statement was interrupted by supporters of the offender who were grumbling amongst themselves.

“Do you mind not talking while I’m reading this?” the complainant said.

A shouting match ensued between the two sides, with several members of the gallery ejected from the court room.

“You are sitting here mocking my sister while she’s reading a victim impact statement,” one woman charged as a sheriff threatened participants with arrest.

Defence submissions, psychological report
Adding to the shocking conduct of the offender was an attempt to fire his lawyer Michael Ritzker as the sentencing hearing was about to begin Monday morning.

Facing the prospect of representing himself, the offender thought-twice during a morning break and agreed to have Ritzker represent him after all.

The offender had already fired a different lawyer previously.

Noting all other known cases in Canadian law history of bestiality involved a prior history of some other form of sexual offending, Ritzker said this case truly is unique.

The offender had no prior criminal record.

“There’s not one case that deals with the facts of this case, not one…It has it’s own lurid and sensationalistic aspects that are automatically featured just by the charge and by the guilt itself.”

Ritzker highlighted a comment his client made to psychologist during a recent court-ordered assessment.

The offender claimed he drank drastically more than he stated to police, suggesting he consumed 24 beers, a 26 ounce bottle of Fireball and two to three grams of magic mushrooms on the day of the offence.

“There could be no reason to do this other than he was out of his mind and didn’t know what he was doing,” Ritzker argued.

The amount of substances the offender claimed to have consumed during the late August assessment was not consistent with a person behaving “cooperative” and “coherent” on scene as described by Oceanside RCMP.

Ritzker noted his client told the psychologist he started drinking at 6 a.m. during the day of the offence and he didn’t remember what happened.

However, the offender confessed to his then wife and police.

The psychological assessment had little to go in terms of unearthing the reasons behind the graphic invasion of a pet dog.

The assessment found the offender had a moderate and mixed presentation of bipolar disorder, panic disorder, and both alcohol and hallucinogen disorders listed as in sustained remission.

A brief apology was offered by the offender in court, saying he’s sorry for his actions and the trauma he’s caused.

Judge Ronald Lamperson said it’s unclear why the offended lashed out the way he did.

“We don’t know why he offended.”

Following day-long sentencing arguments, judge Lamperson opted for the psychologist who authored the assessment to testify in court to help determine if the offender is a candidate to be deemed not criminally responsible due to mental disorder.

The accused would not agree to an interview with NanaimoNewsNOW.

— With files from Jordan Davidson

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On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW

by Ian Holmes

Nanaimo court hears horrific case of bestiality in Qualicum Beach

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