Huntsman relieved as fox case is dropped (From Oxford Mail)
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Huntsman relieved as fox case is dropped
11:49am Wednesday 11th March 2009 in News
Julian Barnfield
The first professional huntsman in the country facing prosecution for allegedly hunting a fox is "elated" after his case was dropped.
Julian Barnfield, 45, of the Heythrop Hunt, which rides out in west Oxfordshire and nearby parts of Gloucestershire, faced four charges of hunting a fox between November 2007 and February last year.
The case against him was understood to be largely based on filmed evidence gathered by anti-hunt groups in Gloucestershire.
But it was reviewed following a High Court ruling in February which said that "searching" for a mammal was not hunting, and that hunting could only be an "intentional" activity.
Following this, the CPS determined that there was not sufficient evidence in Mr Barnfield's case to ensure a realistic prospect of conviction.
The Director of Public Prosecutions decided last week not to appeal against the High Court judgment and Mr Barnfield was told on Tuesday the case against him is to be discontinued.
The huntsman, whose lives at the kennels in Chipping Norton, said he felt "extremely relieved" that charges had been dropped.
Mr Barnfield, who said he had only been trail hunting - an activity designed to replicate a traditional hunt without chasing a fox - added: "It was quite a daunting prospect, to think that I was going to be on trial.
"But there was no evidence to prove that I was hunting illegally."
The allegations brought under the Hunting Act 2004 related to November 17, 2007, at Cold Aston, January 23 last year at Adlestrop, and February 7, also last year, at Barrington, all in Gloucestershire.
Comments(12)
Shrek1
says...
12:25pm Wed 11 Mar 09
Quentin Walker
says...
1:07pm Wed 11 Mar 09
Surely that should read: "The searcher..."
Anton Deck
says...
1:20pm Wed 11 Mar 09
Shrek1
says...
3:11pm Wed 11 Mar 09
Anton Deck wrote:I got the 90-odd-% figures I remember from newspaper reports at the time. Polls of MP's and the public alike. The surveys all reflected an overwhelming majority in favour of a ban.
"With 90-odd-% of the public in favour of banning fox hunting" I would love to see where you get your facts from (apart from making them up to suit yourself). It looks like the saboteurs have been hunting the hunters ...but with a gyrocopter , I hear the hunters will be riding with stinger missles soon.
I doubt the copter pilot chopped his head off on purpose. He could have been trying to collect evidence.
Either way he's deep in the doo dah.
philg
says...
9:23pm Wed 11 Mar 09
If they couldn't even get the wording right to restrict what they wanted to restrict (and what Shrek1 above says most of the country wanted restricted), what hope is there for getting any more complex legislation right?
jockox3
says...
11:10pm Wed 11 Mar 09
Given that over 80% of the UK's population lives in urban areas it does rather suggest that of those likely to have some personal involvement or connection with such rural activities there's probably not majority support.
Shrek1
says...
12:00am Thu 12 Mar 09
The Hunt Alliance, (can't remember the correct title) offered my sister and everyone in her Devonshire village £10 to attend the demonstration in London. They laid on transport and most people who went did so for a day out in the big city. No interest in the demonstration, just the day out.
I do not trust the type that hunt foxes or ride horses. Most UK horses are uncontrollable/untra
ined and dangerous on the road, yet their riders are never charged. Motorists shouldn't have to slow down, horses should get off the road and in a field where they belong.
Localad
says...
9:22am Thu 12 Mar 09
ined and dangerous on the road, yet their riders are never charged. Motorists shouldn't have to slow down, horses should get off the road and in a field where they belong.
And what on earth has your prejudiced view on horses in general got to do with the hunting ban?
Your figures have been proven to be incorrect, you claim not to trust 'the type' that ride horses, that hunters are arrogant and contemptuous and yet you display exactly the same qualities yourself
Words fail me, can you not see the irony of your comments?
firstwitney
says...
9:54am Thu 12 Mar 09
I imagine Mr Barnfield's future activities will be closely monitored.
lordofthemanor1
says...
10:50pm Fri 13 Mar 09
Foxy Lady
says...
11:38am Tue 17 Mar 09
Shrek1 says...
12:22pm Wed 11 Mar 09
With 90-odd-% of the public in favour of banning fox hunting, it was eventually outlawed. I'm not seeing many/any prosecutions regardless of the fact fox hunting continues unabated.
It's not what you know, it's who you know.