‘Egregious, callous, cruel’: Perth woman accused of throwing dog from two-storey car park
A Clarkson woman who allegedly threw her dog from the top of a two-storey car park broke down in court as it was revealed prosecutors were seeking jail time over the “egregious, callous and cruel” incident.
Amy Lea Judge, 25, appeared in Joondalup Magistrates Court charged with ill-treatment of an animal following the death of her Maltese shih-tzu, Princess.
Amy Lea Judge, 25, broke down in court when she heard prosecutors were seeking jail time for throwing her dog off a two-storey car park.Credit: Facebook
On Friday, the court heard Judge drove to Westfield Whitford City shopping centre in Hillarys on the morning of April 7 last year with her partner Scott Frost, 22, from Madeley.
The pair were then allegedly caught on CCTV on the top floor of the centre’s car park “taunting” Princess by allowing her to walk along a low wall bordering the car park.
RSPCA prosecutor Ruby Harris told the court Judge placed the dog on the wall before deliberately throwing her over the edge.
The court heard Princess came to rest at the lower level of the car park, sustaining injuries including internal haemorrhaging, brain injury and spinal/pelvic trauma from the impact of the fall, estimated to be more than nine metres.
A passer-by noticed the dog and took her to a nearby vet, assuming she had been hit by a car.
Harris told the court on Friday that Judge and Frost looked like they were in the middle of “acrimonious discourse” which ended with Frost driving off, leaving Judge to walk from the car park.
Allegedly, neither person checked on Princess, who vets found was microchipped with Judge’s contact details. She and Frost were contacted by staff at Vet West in Whitfords, where they attended and were told about the extent of the dog’s injuries.
“Princess was described to be in a state of shock and [with] multiple severe injuries,” Harris said.
“After a discussion about her injuries and cost of treatment, Ms Judge decided to have her euthanised.”
Frost was also charged with not taking reasonable steps to prevent an animal suffering harm and fined $2500 with an additional order made that he be prevented from owning or dealing with animals for three years.
Judge has not yet entered a plea to the charges and asked for an adjournment to seek legal advice. She will return to court on September 1.
Judge was released on bail on the request of prosecutors who told the court she had a prior extensive record for violence-related offending, but not in relation to animal cruelty.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.