Sentencing delay in Mittens cat killing case

Mittens the cat. – Courtesy of Velda Tapp Pretty

By ROSALYN ROY

STEPHENVILLE – There’ll be another delay before sentencing is handed down for two people convicted for their roles in the death of Mittens of the cat in Sept. 2019.

Jody Anderson of Port aux Basques was found guilty of two counts of Unlawfully causing an animal unnecessary suffering (CCC 2008 [445.1]) and one count of Injuring or endangering an animal (CCC 1985 [445.a]). Peter Rossiter of O’Regan’s was also convicted on one count of each of these charges.

Judge Lynn Cole convicted both on Dec. 2, 2020, and sentencing was scheduled for Stephenville court on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Instead both the Crown and defense attorneys agreed that a pre-sentence report was needed, and Cole agreed.

Velda Tapp Pretty of In Memory of Shadow Rescue has no problem with the delay.

“The pre-sentence report is a good thing. I am glad they’re doing it,” said Pretty, who testified at the trial.

Pretty, who was going to drive to Stephenville for the sentencing, won’t have as far to travel to hear Cole pass sentence on April 21st at 1:00 p.m. The Provincial Circuit Court returns to Port aux Basques in March following its usual winter hiatus.

“I will be there and I will be taking the stand now to do my victim impact statement. I wasn’t going to, but yes, I changed my mind.”

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