Williamson v R

The appeals against conviction by Douglas John Williamson and John Blackwood Williamson (the appellants) were dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The appellants were found guilty of multiple charges of ill-treatment of horses under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and failure to ensure the physical, health and behavioural needs of horses were met. The appellants argued that their trial counsel had induced them to plead guilty under a mistaken belief that no tenable defence could be advanced. The Court of Appeal found that the appellants' counsel acted professionally and there was no miscarriage of justice. The appeal against sentence was also dismissed. The Court of Appeal found that the Judge had turned her mind to the relevant considerations and there was no basis to intervene on appeal.