Jesse Power arrested?

Rumour has it that Jesse Power, the former art student who helped torture and kill "Kensington" the cat, was arrested about a month ago for theft and resisting arrest. Freedom for Animals will try to confirm this rumour.

posted August 1, 2004

Kensington Memorial

Since the 2001 discovery of a gruesome video depicting three men torturing this cat, nicknamed "Kensington", to death, Freedom for Animals has worked to raise awareness about Kensington's case. This appalling crime of cruelty, and the lenient sentences served by the perpetrators, exemplify what is wrong with Canada's ridiculously inadequate cruelty to animals laws.

Every year, Freedom for Animals will be holding a memorial to honour Kensington's memory. We vow that this case will never be forgotten.

Please join us Sunday, May 2, 7pm, at Bellevue Park (on Augusta, north of Dundas). You may bring a vegan candle or flowers if you like.

posted April 25, 2004

We don't want an award!

posted August 21, 2003

Recently, some people have mistaken Freedom for Animals co-founder Suzanne Lahaie with Katie Woodward.

Therefore, Freedom for Animals would like to make it clear that we are not associated with Katie Woodward or her attempt to obtain a $10,000 reward from the Toronto Humane Society.

The only purpose of Freedom for Animals' and the Kensington Market Cat Rescue's campaign is to see that justice is done, that Kensington's memory is honoured and that Jesse Power, Anthony Wenneker, and Matt Kaczorowski get the punishment they deserve for their heinous crime.

As an animal rights group, we would never accept reward money for our work. We feel that the Toronto Humane Society can put their money to much better use helping animals rather than enriching any one activist.

It's not over

posted July 17, 2003

Freedom for Animals will be doing everything we can to keep Kensington's case alive. We are currently seeking legal advice as to whether appeals are possible for convicted Jesse Power (90 day sentence) or Matthew Kaczorowski (4 month sentence). Please join the kensingtoncruelty email list to keep up to date on the case and how you can help. We are a very small, nonprofit group and urgently need donations to help pay legal and other costs.

Regular Meetings Start August 28

Freedom for Animals will be resuming regular meetings on August 28 (note change of date), 6:30 pm, at the 519 (519 Church Street, at Wellesley).

This will be a short (one hour) meeting focusing primarily on the Kensington cat cruelty video case. We will planning actions around possibly seeking an appeal of Jesse Power and Matthew Kaczorowski's lenient sentences, a postcard campaign and a trip to Ottawa to get the government moving on Bill C-10b (stronger anti-cruelty laws), and fundraisers to cover expenses.

New members are always welcome. For more info, phone Suzanne at 416-591-5120.

posted August 19, 2003

Kensington Case on the Radio

posted July 13, 2003

Suzanne Lahaie of Freedom for Animals and the Kensington Market Stray Cat Rescue will be speaking about the horrendous Kensington cat cruelty case on CHRY 105.5 FM, Wednesday, July 16, noon to 1 pm (EDT). You can listen online at the CHRY site.

Cat Torturer Matt Goes Free

posted July 11, 2003

Matt Kaczorowski was in court today. The terrible video he made of the cat torturing was played in full. He pleaded guilty and was released under 3 years probation, he will not be allowed to own an animal or visit Toronto in that time. He also has to do community service. He has been in jail 4 months and will not be serving any more jail time.

This is a big disappointment and Freedom for Animals will be seeking an appeal; we believe that he should have the maximum punishment for his crime.

Suzanne Lahaie, who was there all day, said, "The more you see the video, the more you are shocked and cannot believe the lenience of the law and disrespect for animals."

Police do NOT know who "owned" the tortured cat

The search for the cat's "owner" must continue

"Kensington", the tortured cat. Suzanne Lahaie, of Freedom for Animals, spoke with Officer Margetson of the Toronto Police on April 2, 2003.

Officer Margetson says that the police do not have the name of the cat's owner, and encouraged all concerned citizens to continue the search.

One way you can help is to print out this poster (MS Word) and post it as widely as you can. If you prefer to make your own poster, the most important things to include are a picture of the cat (you can right click on the picture on our website to save a copy on your computer) and the phone numbers of the police and Crimestoppers. We encourage you to also include the Kensington Market Cruelty Case Hotline number (416-591-5120) for people who are uncomfortable talking to authorities. All tips we receive are passed on to the police.

There has been speculation that the cat was female, however this has not been confirmed according to the police. The cat was so badly injured that it was impossible to determine his or her gender. One tip we received, which the police are investigating, as well as including a description of the cat's possible owner, said the cat's name was Eric. Therefore we urge that if you do make your own poster, do not specify the cat's gender.

In addition, no one knows where the cat comes from. Although the torturers lived in the Kensington Market, it cannot be assumed that the cat was from that area. Although it is likely that the cat is from somewhere in Toronto, it can't be assumed that the cat was from downtown Toronto so this speculative information should not be included on search posters.

Why does it matter who "owned" this cat?

Matthew Kaczorowski, who is accused of being the third cat torturer, is facing charges of mischief, theft of property under $5000 and possession of property obtained by crime. (He cannot be charged with cruelty to animals under Canada's inadequate laws as more than 6 months have passed since the crime.) It is not clear if these charges will stick, as the cat's "owner" has not been identified.

Many activists worked hard to see that Kaczorowski was found. Let's turn that same energy and dedication to finding the cat's "owner", so that the search for "Matt" will not have been in vain.

Important: Matt in Court Friday Morning

posted July 10, 2003

At around 1pm today, Crown Attorney Robin Flumerfelt told Freedom for Animals co-founder Suzanne Lahaie that Matt Kaczorowski's next hearing will be July 11, 10 am, room 124, Old City Hall (NE corner of Queen and Bay). According to Flumerfelt, Matt is likely to plead guilty and will likely be released under house arrest.

It is not clear why the court clerk, as recently as this morning, told Suzanne a different time and room for the case.

We encourage everyone to attend and show the public's support for a tough sentence.

Freedom for Animals demands an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada!

posted June 18, 2003

In light of the Ontario Provincial Court of Appeal's decision to let Jesse Power, convicted cat torturer, serve only 90 days in jail, Freedom for Animals is calling for an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Please get involved... click here for more information on the call for an appeal, including vital contact information.

Jesse Power appeal dismissed

posted June 13, 2003

Freedom for Animal's co-founder Suzanne Lahaie learned today from Officer Scott of the Toronto Police that the appeal of Jesse Power's lenient sentence has been dismissed.

While Judge Doherty disagreed with Judge Ormston's claim that Power did not intend to inflict suffering on the cat, he concluded that under the current Canadian cruelty to animals law he cannot serve more time.

Link: Judgement in R. v. Power, Ontario Court of Appeals

This ruling underscores the desperate need for an improved cruelty to animals law in Canada. See http://anticruelty.ca/ for information on the campaign to get stronger anticruelty laws in Canada.

Suzanne Lahaie and Freedom for Animals will investigate if there is anything more that can be legally done to get a stronger sentence for Jesse Power.

Candlelight vigil planned

posted June 5, 2003

We're still waiting to hear the judgment the three Court of Appeal judges will give to cat torturer Jesse Power. On the day the judgment is released -- whether it is good news or bad news -- Freedom for Animals will be holding a memorial and a candlelight vigil for Kensington outside the Court of Appeal (northeast corner of Queen St. and University Ave.) from 7 to 8 p.m. It could happen any day now. Join the kensingtoncruelty email list or watch this site for more details.

Jesse Power Returns to Court

Jesse Power, the cat torturer who last year was sentenced to only house arrest, and 90 days in jail to be served on weekends, returned to court Wednesday, May 28, 10:30 a.m., Courtroom 10, Court of Appeal of Ontario, 130 Queen Street West. The Crown is appealing his sentence--Crown attorney Robin Flumerfelt had sought the maximum sentence for Power's crime. For details about Power's first trial and sentencing, see our News Archive.

Confusion about Matt's plea

Dan Brodsky, lawyer for the third accused cat torturer, Matt Kaczorowski, was shocked by the report in the Toronto Star yesterday that Kaczorowski had agreed to plead guilty. An email from Robin Flumerfelt read in court on April 9 said that Kaczorowski had agreed to plead guilty to mischief. Brodsky denies that such an agreement has taken place according to this article in the Toronto Sun.

Kaczorowski affiliated with "Nazi Rapists"?

An alert employee of PETA found a webpage showing that accused cat torturer Matthew Kaczorowski is apparently associated with a rock band, the Nazi Rapists, who according to their own website cannot get bookings at any club any more as their show includes violent sexual acts. In case Kaczorowski's lawyer has the web page removed, we have created a mirror of the Nazi Rapists web page here.