Constitutional court ruling means around 50 cases should now be prosecuted
The decision by the Constitutional Court not to declare a law ‘outlawing mistreatment of pet animals’ unconstitutional means that courts which have previously ‘absolved’ defendants will now be ordered to punish them.
At issue, explain reports today, are around 50 cases that had been ‘frozen’ pending the Constitutional Court’s decision.
Readers may remember the confusion when courts of appeal started ‘dismissing’ condemnations from initial trials, suggesting the law as it stands is not constitutional. This caused an outcry – particularly as some of the animal abusers ‘let off’ had committed horrendous acts against pet animals.
Then, on January 23, a majority of Constitutional Court judges ruled that the appeal court reading of constitutionality was flawed.
Correio da Manhã explains this now means the court will refer cases that have been absolved back to the initial (lower) courts so that they can enforce the original penalties.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
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