- South Australia, Australia -
On Tuesday, July 5, appearing via video link from the Christies Beach Magistrates Court, Magistrate Lynette Duncan sentenced 57-years-old STEVEN JOHN LEFFANUE to ONLY 18 months in prison with a non-parole period of seven months for the murder of an innocent dog named Pup.
LEFFANUE was also forbidden from having animals in future.
On February 7, 2022, LEFFANUE faced Victor Harbor Magistrate Teresa Anderson and through his lawyer, he pleaded guilty to two counts of ill-treating an animal to cause death or serious harm, two counts of unlawfully being on premises, and one count of dishonestly taking property without consent.
The hearing was then adjourned until a psychological assessment report of LEFFANUE could be completed, Magistrate Anderson accepted the pleas and remanded LEFFANUE on continuing bail.
Pup’s murder happened in November 2021.
LEFFANUE stole the furbaby from her family home, took her to an empty property in the neighborhood, left her for five days, he then returned, and killed her.
On December 1, 2021, part of a Facebook post published by Pup’s mom, Ms. Amie Sherwin, read: “Last night I received a call from the police , notifying me that our beautiful girl had crossed the rainbow bridge.
It saddens and angers me, as to how she passed....
PLEASE EVERYONE in and around the area, put padlocks on your gates, keep your dogs safe!
On Wednesday November 24th, while I was dropping my kids at school [a] childcare, a local resident of the community came and took our dog from the safety of her family yard, he kept her somewhere for a week and then yesterday he took her into the backyard of an unoccupied holiday house and beat my poor baby so badly that she was left disfigured and unrecognisable by her face. He then he walked away, leaving her alone to die 😡💔
A lovely lady witnessed this attack on my beautiful girl and called the police immediately, if it weren't for this wonderful lady, we would never have known, I am very grateful to her.
I can't thank the police enough, for finding and arresting this disgusting person promptly and for their huge amount of compassion and support.
At this stage, I cannot name this person as is may jeopardise the court proceedings.”
A vet with the RSPCA performed a necropsy on Pup and reported that Pup had suffered “unusually severe trauma.”
A police prosecutor told the court: “The RSPCA vet who had a part in reviewing the necropsy said that they were ‘utterly appalled by the pain this dog would have endured before its death’”.
ABC NET reports that LEFFANUE’s lawyer had told the court that his client had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and that his auditory hypersensitivity had been triggered by Pup’s barking over a period of 20 months.
In sentencing, Duncan said Pup had died a violent and given the gravity of the offences and the need for community protection and safety, a prison term was justified.
According to ABC NET, Duncan said: “The objective circumstances of these offences are at the highest end of the scale for offences of their kind. The penalty imposed must send a clear and strong message to you and others that ill-treatment causing serious harm or death to animals will not be tolerated and will result in significant penalties.”
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Pup’s pictures shared from Amie Sherwin.
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