Medical emergencies stall horse trial (From Bucks Free Press)

Gray trial stalled as he seeks mental assessment

5:00pm Monday 16th February 2009 in News By Alex Hayes

THE trial of five people accused of cruelty to horses was thrown into chaos today after all of the defendants failed to turn up.

Jodie Gray, 26, one of those charged with cruelty at Spindles Farm, in Hyde Heath, was rushed to hospital this morning with suspected meningitis.

Her father, James Gray, 44, failed to attend Bicester Magistrates Court after being told to see a doctor by his solicitor to assess his mental health.

However, there was confusion over the whereabouts of three other defendants, Jodie's mother Julie Gray, 41, Cordelia Gray, 20, and a teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

All five are charged with 12 offences under the Animal Cruelty Act after dozens of horses were seized from the farm last January.

They all deny the charges.

Defence barrister Mike Fullerton said Cordelia Gray had told him she was at Jodie Gray's home in Ashford looking after a “significant number of children”.

Their solicitor, Nigel Weller said: “At this time Jodie is in hospital on a drip and antibiotics, but she has been told she can leave hospital and return home and attend court tomorrow provided she takes things easily.”

He also said her mother and co-defendant Julie was with her in St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey.

On Friday Mr Gray was warned if he was late for court without contacting someone to give a reason he would be held in breach of bail.

The court heard he had been referred to see a psychiatrist by his GP, who said he suspected Mr Gray was suffering from depression.

However, Judge Andrew Vickers told defence counsel the medical certificate which had been faxed to the court was not appropriate to excuse him from missing today's proceedings.

He said: “I will be asking for affidavits and accounts as to where everyone was. I have a responsibility to the public who are funding this trial, and I need to maintain control of this.”

He also asked Mr Weller to draw up a time line and proof of contact he had had from each defendant to explain their absence. The trial continues.