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Jail time possible for two of three men guilty of abusing cows at Chilliwack farm

Sentencing underway in provincial court Thursday
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Two more young men who abused cows at a Chilliwack dairy farm may be off to jail.

Crown and defence counsel entered joint submissions for Cody Larson and Lloyd Blackwell in the now infamous case of cattle abuse at Chilliwack Cattle Sales, Canada’s largest dairy farm.

The charges came thanks to video shot by an undercover employee working for animal rights activist group Mercy for Animals (MFA) in 2014.

The joint submission from Crown and defence for Larson is for 20 days in jail, a $4,000 fine and a one year prohibition on owning or caring for large animals.

For Blackwell, no jail time is requested but a $7,000 fine and a three-year ban on caring for animals.

There was no joint submission for Brad Genereux, the third of the three to plead guilty on June 15. Crown is asking for 60 to 90 days in jail.

A fourth man, Jonathan Talbot, is next due in court June 27 to schedule a date for his sentencing.

Before the morning break in provincial court Thursday, video of some of the abuse was played in court. In one clip, after Larson hits a downed cow several times with a cane and throws feces in its face, other workers get a tractor to move the animal.

Larson is heard to suggest dragging the cow by its leg, and the MFA employee, “Matthew,” is heard to say: “That’s not going to pull the leg off or something?”

Larson’s reply: “It’s not my leg.”

The sentencing hearing continues.