Two Protesters at Abbotsford Pig Farm to Appeal Sentence

Two animal rights activists who were convicted for their role in a 2019 protest at an Abbotsford pig farm will appeal their sentences Friday (May 31) in Vancouver.

Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer of Kelowna hope the British Columbia Court of Appeal overturns their 30-day jail sentence and re-sentences them to conditional release or a suspended sentence, which could include house arrest.

The two men were among four people initially charged in connection with an April 28, 2019 protest at the Excelsior Pig Farm. The group – who dubbed themselves “Excelsior 4” – faced a total of 21 charges.

Charges against Geoff Regier were later stayed and Roy Sasano was acquitted at trial.

Soranno and Schafer, who are spouses, were convicted in July 2022 each of one count of breaking and entering and sentenced in October 2022.

They appealed their conviction on the grounds that the trial judge erred in refusing the jury to view video footage obtained from hidden cameras showing the alleged mistreatment of animals on the pig farm.

The cameras were placed by members of the group Meat the Victims, to which Soranno and Schafer belonged.

In January of this year, the British Columbia Court of Appeal upheld the convictions. Soranno and Schaffer have since filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Canada to appeal this decision.

In the meantime, they are appealing their conviction.

RELATED: Two Protesters at Abbotsford Pig Farm Sentenced to 30 Days in Jail

In a press release issued Monday, May 27, the two alleged that Soranno was “unceremoniously interrupted” during her 2022 sentencing hearing and that Judge Frits Verhoeven told her that “this is not not the platform for you.”

“According to the appeal brief, Verhoeven denied Soranno his 'well-established right to speak before being sentenced' and further deprived the court of information relevant to his sentencing,” the press release said.

The appeal brief says the judge's actions were “condescending, dismissive and unlawful.”

“Soranno and Schafer argue that Judge Verhoeven also erred in deciding that their beliefs and morals were irrelevant to their guilt, a claim underscored by Verhoeven's decision to use their political goals as grounds for imposing a custodial sentence, basing it on denunciation and deterrence. » version statuses.

Soranno says the judge “can’t have it both ways.”

“The reasons why we engage in nonviolent civil disobedience are either relevant to our case or they are not. We believe that speaking out against animal cruelty is a social imperative and very relevant to our sentencing,” she said.

Soranno and Schafer plan to hold a news conference and rally in front of the British Columbia Court of Appeal at 9 a.m. Friday. The hearing is expected to begin at 10 a.m.

RELATED: Guilty verdicts stand for 2 Abbotsford pig farm protesters