PETA Animal-Cruelty Trial Set for Jan. 22

The on-again off-again Cruelty to Animals trial of two People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is back “on” … again. The Hertford County, North Carolina Superior Court has set the new trial date for January 22 -- over a year after the defendants, Andrew Cook and Adria Hinkle, were indicted on 21 counts of Cruelty to Animals and 3 counts of Obtaining Property By False Pretenses. The Honorable Cy Grant will be presiding.

Watch this space beginning January 22 for daily news and updates from the trial.

Police in Ahoskie, North Carolina arrested Cook and Hinkle on June 15, 2005 near a shopping-center dumpster, from which they recovered 18 dead pets in trash bags. Thirteen additional dead animals were recovered from the PETA-owned van in which they were traveling. Witnesses from the Bertie County (NC) Animal Shelter and the Ahoskie Animal Hospital later confirmed that the two PETA employees had collected animals earlier that day -- including puppies and kittens -- on the promise that PETA would find them adoptive homes.

Hinkle will be represented by Washington, DC white-collar criminal lawyer Blair Brown and local attorney Jack Warmack. Cook's lawyer is North Carolina litigator Mark Edwards. District Attorney Valerie Asbell will try the case. Both defendants' legal bills are reportedly being paid by PETA.

Government records from the Virginia State Veterinarian show that in 2005, PETA killed 90 percent of the animals it took in for adoption. Since 1998, the group has put over 14,400 dogs and cats to death. The number for 2006 should be available soon.

» Click here to see crime-scene photos from the arrest, including pictures of PETA’s van and "death kit."

» Click here to see some of the Grand Jury indictments against PETA employees Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook.

» Click here to see police evidence photos of some animals Hinkle and Cook are accused of killing and dumping.