Extremely disturbing video circulated last August showing a man from Sept-Îles on the north coast running over a calf moose and driving his large pickup truck while filming the scene.
• Also read: [VIDÉO] Cruelty to animals in Sept-Îles: He films himself crushing a baby moose with his van
According to the man, the two animals were run over by his vehicle. The body of one of the two calves can be seen in the images after the man walked backwards while the animal was crushed a second time.
The individual behaves dangerously and creates a connection between the act he is committing and the natives.
The person’s vehicle was confiscated a few hours after the video was released and the Sûreté du Québec questioned him, but to date no charges have been brought against him.
“Crown prosecutors have one year to bring charges,” explains Maître Cédric Materne, a criminal defense attorney. “In that case, they could face felony charges, but prosecutors have a lot of files on their desks that need to be prioritized.”
According to the lawyer, charges against the culprits should not be delayed because animals have rights in Quebec too.
“On the civilian side, we recognize that animals are endowed with some intelligence, so they have rights,” Me Materne explains. “It’s only a matter of time before the public prosecutor files a criminal complaint.”
Under the law, killing large game with a vehicle is a felony punishable by a $2,500 fine.
“This man is aware that something is about to happen and the police must have told him that they have closed the investigation and that they are now in the hands of the DPCP,” says Mr Maternal.