CONVICTED (2017) | Graham John Williams, born 29/07/1956, of Falcon Road, Birkenhead – gave gravely ill German Shepherd drugs and then beat her to death with shovel; his partner Violet Holmes failed to take any action to prevent the dog’s suffering
Williams fed 11-year-old German Shepherd Yarna aspirin and paracetamol to try and kill her, before beating her over the head multiple times with a shovel. Her squeals of agony alerted neighbours who called the RSPCA.
In a separate hearing Williams’ partner Violet Holmes admitted knowing about the dog’s suffering but failing to take any action. Her lawyer said his client suffered from a range of mental health issues including depression and post traumatic stress disorder.
The lawyer described Williams as a “strong-willed man” who put his client in a difficult position because he wasn’t prepared to spend the money that would have alleviated Yarna’s suffering.
Career criminal Williams, who has a string of previous convictions for offences including affray and burglary, was sentenced for two offences of causing unnecessary suffering to the German shepherd, by subjecting her to blunt force trauma and for failing to provide veterinary treatment for an infected mammary gland tumour.
The judge told the court that he would have imposed a longer sentence on Williams if the law allowed him to and he commended the RSPCA on its work to investigate such cases.
Investigating RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes said that Yarna’s cruel death came to light after a member of the public heard Williams beating the dog and the dog squealing.
He said: “They were so shocked that they dialed 999 immediately.
“The dog, an 11-year-old German shepherd named Yarna, had been suffering with a melon-sized tumour and Williams decided to end things for her.
“He fed her large amounts of aspirin and paracetamol and said this was an attempt to induce an overdose. Williams then took the dog outside and beat her multiple times over the head with a shovel, eventually leading to her death.
“It was a brutal and barbaric end to her life at the hands of her owner whose responsibility it was to look after her and protect her from harm.
“It is such a horrible way to die and I can’t even begin to imagine what Yarna’s last moments would have been like – the terror and pain she must have felt would have been unbearable.”
A post mortem revealed Yarna had suffered multiple blunt force trauma injuries to the head.
Inspector Joynes added: “This was an incredibly distressing case to deal with but I’m pleased that Yarna’s suffering hasn’t gone unanswered.”
Sentencing:
Williams: four months in prison.
Holmes: four-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years; £500 in costs.
Both were banned from keeping all animals for life.