Crown prosecutor joins SPCA's free legal team

Simon Moore owns a horse and cat. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Auckland's senior prosecutor has offered his services for no charge to help the SPCA campaign for tougher penalties for animal abuse.

Simon Moore, SC, the Crown Solicitor, has added his name to a panel of barristers, Queen's Counsel and law firm partners who prosecute cases for free on behalf of the Auckland SPCA.

SPCA inspectors usually prepare their own prosecutions, but need legal help for defended hearings.

Without the free services of supporters in the legal fraternity, this would be a financial drain on limited resources.

Mr Moore, the owner of an "elderly" cat and a horse, said he had prosecuted some "dreadful" cases of animal abuse in the past.

Other lawyers who work for free include QCs Stuart Grieve, John Haigh and Paul Davison and rising barristers Ron Mansfield, Todd Simmonds and Richard Earwaker.

The panel was the idea of Auckland SPCA board member Anita Killeen, chief prosecutor for the Serious Fraud Office.

Next month, she will speak at a meeting of prosecutors in the Ukraine about the SFO and the pro bono group.

She was invited after the Attorney-General for England and Wales read about the panel in the Weekend Herald.