Advertisement

Accused animal hoarder released on conditions two weeks later than intended

Accused animal hoarder released on conditions two weeks later than intended

An accused animal hoarder was released from custody in Lethbridge on Friday, two weeks after she was supposed to be set free while awaiting trial.

The delay in April Dawn Irving's release was the result of her lawyer submitting the wrong address where Irving would be living.

Irving is awaiting trial on 14 animal cruelty charges after 201 dogs were seized from her property near Milk River, Alta., in 2014.

The animals were found dehydrated, starving and chained in the yard. Five other dogs were found dead.

Issue of the address

At the hearing two weeks ago, which was to set Irving free on conditions, her lawyer applied for two publication bans, one of which would block reporters from reporting on where Irving would be living.

Prosecutor Tyler Raymond told the court on Friday there were questions about whether the wrong address given in open court was a misrepresentation, accidental, negligent or intentional.

Irving's lawyer, Bjoern Wolkmann, accepted fault for the error and said he relied on the information provided by the person who would be responsible for Irving without checking the address. It turned out the address was for the surety's son.

"It does look like I'm trying to hide the address from the press," said Wolkmann.

"For the record, that was not my intention at all."

Judge accepts explanation

Wolkmann also submitted a letter from Irving stating she did not advise the lawyer to give the wrong address.

Judge Derek Redman accepted the explanation and called it a "lesson."

One thing the judge did not accept was the length of time it took to deal with the matter.

"Why has she been sitting in custody for two weeks?" asked Redman.

Raymond said that was the earliest time the judge's office said it could be dealt with and that he was not prepared to deal with Irving's release after the court proceedings on May 10 had concluded.

"The matter should have been brought back to me on that day," said Redman. "It should have been rectified sooner."

New address read, coughs erupt

After sorting through the confusion, the time came for the real address to be read out loud in open court, and just as it was, coughing erupted within the chambers.

It was also at that moment that Irving, attending the hearing through closed-circuit television, broke her silence and said "give me a break."

Irving will be living at a rural address in Warner County rather than in the town of Milk River as was originally revealed.

A pre-trial conference is expected to take place on May 27.