KEY POINTS:
An Awanui farmer and his wife have had to be separately charged with ill-treating up to 158 sheep after one elected a trial by judge only.
Owen Keith Kunicich, 66, and his wife Laura face three charges relating to ill- treatment of sheep at their farm between December 4, 2005 and March 31, 2006.
Both faced joint charges and elected a judge and jury trial, but Mr Kunicich later indicated he wanted a judge-only trial.
The SPCA then had to lay separate charges against him and the case was called before Judge Russell Johnson in the Kaitaia District Court on Monday.
SPCA prosecutor Jim Boyd said a decision was expected within a week on whether the judge would accept the separate charges and how the couple should be tried in court.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
