CONTACT: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, 662-809-4483

IMAGES: http://bit.ly/HorseKilling

GREENVILLE, MS (February 13, 2018) – Lavarius Barber of Greenville, Mississippi will be tried tomorrow for the fatal shooting of a 12-year-old horse and subsequent attempted murder of his co-defendant. Barber’s trial began on Monday 12 and continues at the Washington County Courthouse at 910 Washington Avenue, Greenville.

Attending is Doll Stanley who directs In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals campaign in Mississippi. Stanley has been working with legislators to strengthen the state’s weak animal protection laws.

“It is time we understand the connection between sadistic animal harming, and harming our fellow humans,” said Stanley. “Mississippi has seen too many animal abusers let off with a slap on the wrist. We are working with legislators to increase the penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals other than livestock.”  

Jeremy Morris and Daniel Anderson are co-defendants in the horse shooting case, which took place at Sharon Road in Washington County on November 21, 2016. Barber allegedly shot one of his co-defendants for turning state witness in the horse shooting case. The co-defendant is a minor who cannot be named.

In Defense of Animals works with a coalition of grassroots organizations across Mississippi. The coalition is calling for zero tolerance in this case and in other animal cruelty cases across the state.

“We cannot keep allowing sociopaths to get away with inflicting suffering on innocent animals and causing grief to their families,” said Stanley.

Barber was charged under MSSS 97-41-15 and posted a $75,000 bond. If convicted, he faces twelve months to five years in the State Department of Corrections and a fine of $1,500 to $10,000. In addition to the fine and incarceration, the court would order restitution to the horse’s owner.

“What’s particularly tragic is that if the horse had been a species other than “livestock” this crime would have been a misdemeanor,” stated Justice for Animals campaigner Stanley.

She added, “In a recent case another Greenville man was finally convicted of a felony for cruelly killing his girlfriend’s dog, only because he had a previous misdemeanor conviction for dragging his dog behind his vehicle. A violent person is a peril to everyone around them and we want officials to recognize that sick crimes against animals have a grave impact on society.”

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals campaign is a Mississippi-based project building coalitions with other state-based advocates including Animal Advocacy Initiative of Mississippi. Their goal is for citizens to gain justice in cases of egregious acts of violence to animals and works with local law enforcement and judges to enforce existing laws. On February 12, In Defense of Animals celebrated 25 years of service in Mississippi, having saved thousands of animals through its work with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, the courts, and caring citizens.

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In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals campaign is actively working with officials in communities, building a groundswell of support for establishing and amending city and county ordinances as part of its campaign to show state lawmakers that Mississippians will not tolerate animal cruelty.

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of fighting for animals, people and the environment through education, campaigns and hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi.

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048