The animal cruelty case against Willem Lagrange (63) of Rynfield has been postponed to August 15 because of the unavailability of the presiding officer, who was reportedly sick.
Lagrange made a brief appearance on July 26, in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court where judgement was expected to be handed down.
For the first time, Buddy, the Labrador, was in court with inspector Thomas Mohlake and community members who showed their support.
Lagrange, who is out on bail, is accused of allegedly beating his pet Labrador with a belt and strangling it last year in August.
He was arrested in September after the SPCA opened a case against him when they obtained video footage of the incident from a concerned member of the public.
The animal survived the attack and was confiscated by Benoni SPCA.
At his previous appearance on July 12, the magistrate dismissed the defence’s Section 174 application, which sought to argue that the matter be discharged as they believed the video footage was altered.
Also Read: Rynfield man charged with animal cruelty after beating, strangling dog
Also Read: Animal cruelty case still in the air
