News Release, May 26, 2003

Jesse Power Returns to Court

Animal Rights Activists Continue to Hold a Memorial for the Cat Named "Kensington"

Wednesday, May 28, 2003
10:30 a.m., Courtroom 10
Court of Appeal of Ontario, 130 Queen Street West

Toronto - Jesse Power, the art student in the infamous cat mutilation case involving three men videotaping themselves brutally torturing and killing a cat, will return to court this Wednesday, May 28, 2003. In May 2002, the Crown decided to appeal the lenient sentence Mr. Power received on April 18, 2002 by Justice E. F. Ormston. The public's shock and outrage at Mr. Power's sentence of 90 days in jail to be served on weekends and Justice Ormston's statement that "there are worse ways that this cat could have died," had an impact to bring Mr. Power back to court for a review of his sentence.

Freedom for Animals will continue to hold a memorial for 'Kensington' outside the courthouse during the proceedings inside.

"We vow to keep Kensington's video torture and murder fresh on everyone's mind. Kensington's slaying will never fade away. Despite the harassment a Freedom for Animals member has received over the past two years, we are not intimidated to stop our campaign to keep Kensington's case alive," said Suzanne Lahaie, co-founder of Freedom for Animals.

"The lenient sentences given to those who commit heinous acts of cruelty to animals, as this case exemplifies, is a reflection of how seriously our animal protection laws need to change. The federal government's Bill C-10B - legislation that would strengthen the animal cruelty sections of the Crimal Code - is currently being threatened in the Senate. Animals need strong legal protection in our society because they are always innocent victims who cannot speak for themselves," said Susan Krajnc, co-founder of Freedom for Animals.