Pig trial: defence lawyer compares Kranjc to Gandhi

Mar 14, 2017

Closing remarks for the trial were Thursday

Anita Kranjc, pig activist on trial for giving water to slaughter bound pigs, was back in court Mar. 9 for closing arguments. Police charged Kranjc with mischief when she provided water for pigs in a trailer outside of Fearman’s Pork Inc. in June 2015.

Gary Grill, Kranjc’s lawyer, said in court that Kranjc was “acting in the public good,” according to a CBC article.

Anita Kranjc gives water to pigs headed to Fearman's Pork in Burlington.
Photo: Elli Garlin

Grill compared Kranjc’s actions to those of Ghandi and Nelson Mandela. Grill also compared her acts to those offering water to Jews during the Holocaust, according to the CBC.

"A pig is the same as a human and the offence we commit in relation to a pig in causing that suffering is the same gravity as the offence we create to a human who suffers the same way,” Grill said. "It is clear that the public has an interest in fostering the good actions of others.”

The agricultural industry however, says the case should reflect on the fact that Kranjc was tampering with property that was not hers. Kranjc’s actions also could have jeopardized the product’s food safety, the industry says.

"Why does the farmer have to take the chance or the risk that it may not be water,” said Harutyun Apel, prosecuting lawyer for Eric Van Boekel, the farmer who owned the pigs.

Van Boekel has voiced his concerns that the unknown substance Kranjc offered to the pigs could have led to Fearman’s turning away the pigs. He also said the transport truck driver’s safety is jeopardized by the activists in front of the plant.

Kranjc will receive her final sentence May 4, 2017. She is “perfectly fine” with the possibility of jail time, according to CBC.

Farms.com will continue to cover the case as new details arise.

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