Just in: Griffiths has been found not guilty of the manslaughter of Trevor Morse. News story here. Share and Enjoy:

Figures released today show that poisonings of birds of prey in Scotland have risen again: a total of 22 poisoning incidents recorded in 2009 resulting in 27 dead birds of prey including 19 buzzards, four red kites and two golden eagles. The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in Scotland (PAW) website has this map [...]

Here’s a lovely dog story from Crufts. On display at the show was the skeleton of a terrier. Nicknamed Hatch, she lived on Henry VIII’s ship the Mary Rose and perished when the ship sank in 1545 – trapped inside the carpenter’s cabin. Historians believe she would have been the ship’s official form of pest [...]

Lovely to be out on a glorious early spring day – and no, I wasn’t poaching! Share and Enjoy:

I’m out with Andy Pye again, this time shooting over maize cover crop. Share and Enjoy:

It has emerged in court that Bryan Griffiths had been reprimanded for risky flying while monitoring another hunt just three days before Trevor Morse’s death. An instructor had criticised his ‘poor attitude’ after another incident. Griffiths was also accused of misleading police six times during questioning. More from the Coventry Telegraph here. Share and Enjoy:

Following this blog, you might get the idea that all I’ve done over the past fortnight is sit and rant at the papers. Oh no! Quite apart from attending my brother’s wedding to the lovely Gwen in Edinburgh recently… …I have been practising my rifle shooting on plastic and steel foxes with Robert Bucknell… …freezing [...]

An extraordinary argument is being put forward by the defence in the trial of Bryan Griffiths. They appear to be saying that Trevor Morse had ‘time to move’ and chose to stay put. Are they suggesting he wanted to commit suicide? I can’t see the argument ‘he had time to move’ cutting much ice if [...]

Those are the words heard on video moments after Trevor Morse was killed by a gyrocopter piloted by Bryan Griffiths who is on trial at Birmingham Crown Court, charged with ‘manslaughter by gross negligence’. The words may prove crucial in determining Griffiths’ guilt or innocence. They certainly ring very hollow coming from people who lecture [...]

The trial begins today at Birmingham Crown Court of Bryan Griffiths, charged with killing a hunt supporter who died after being struck by the propeller blades of a gyrocopter. Griffiths denies the manslaughter of Warwickshire Hunt member Trevor Morse on 9 March last year. Previous posts here, here and here. Share and Enjoy: