Quote:KENT Wilson is considered, by his friends, to be a passionate nature-lover and model citizen – but to his neighbour, he will always be the man who shot and buried her beloved cat.
Mia Shepherdson was just 19 when, in February last year, she confronted Wilson, 63, about the disappearance of her family’s black oriental, Spock.
“I was very upset, we had been calling for Spock for days trying to find him, and I asked Kent if he had seen him,” she told The Advertiser.
“He admitted he had shot and buried him on our ‘behalf’ ... I left crying, he said ‘thanks for coming’ and suggested I should buy another cat.”
Kent Wilson outside court.
..............Spock was a feral predator.........
On Thursday, Miss Shepherdson and her family watched as the Adelaide Magistrates Court fined Wilson $2000 but spared him a conviction for animal cruelty.
Magistrate Paul Foley said Wilson, a lifelong conservationist, was not the typical offender.
“The typical example involves a person who either grossly neglects an animal or whose motive is to simply cause pain and suffering,” he said.
“I accept you genuinely believed Spock was a threat to native wildlife on your property, particularly bird life.”
Wilson — a Justice of the Peace and former scout leader — faced a maximum $50,000 fine or four years’ jail after being found guilty of ill-treating an animal to cause death.
He shot and killed Spock, 2, on the five-acre Ashton block he and his family have spent 40 years maintaining as a refuge for native flora and fauna.
Spock was microchipped, but not wearing a collar, and the Shepherdsons lived just 100m from Wilson’s home — but he did not ask if the cat was theirs before firing.
Last month he appealed the guilty verdict in the Supreme Court, claiming his actions were not an offence under animal welfare laws, but his challenge was rejected.
In her victim impact statement on Thursday, Miss Shepherdson said collecting Spock’s exhumed body from Wilson was “probably the most awful experience of my life”.
“Spock was a friendly and mostly indoor cat who was loved greatly by our family ... (his death) was a hugely distressing time for everyone in my family.
“I am now fearful of Wilson and am terrified of going near his property.”
The RSPCA urged Mr Foley to record a conviction in order to deter others but his counsel said that was unnecessary, given the “unique” nature of the case.
They said Wilson was “a model citizen” and “pillar of the community” who, in a moment of “perverse irony”, faced animal cruelty charges for seeking to protect native wildlife.
Mr Foley agreed a conviction was not required, noting Wilson had already paid compensation to the Shepherdsons.
Outside court, Miss Shepherdson said she was concerned that, without a conviction, Wilson would be permitted to keep his firearms licence.
“We don’t need guns at all, especially where I’m living,” she said.
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