RSPCA to call 37 witnesses in alleged animal cruelty case agianst Nicole Louise Bourne

A frustrated magistrate has ordered a trial over alleged animal cruelty at a Toowoomba pet store to go ahead, despite issues over dates between prosecutors and lawyers.

A frustrated Toowoomba magistrate ordered the alleged animal cruelty case against Pets Galore owner Nicole Bourne to be finalised sooner rather than later, despite the RSPCA and legal teams being potentially unavailable on the trial date.

Nicole Louise Bourne was charged with more than 200 animal welfare breaches three years ago after the RSPCA raided the Hodgson St store at Toowoomba.

Ms Bourne has not formally entered a plea, but has long denied the charges.

The RSPCA seized hundreds of animals which included dogs, cats, birds, and rodents.

Photo Bev Lacey

At Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday magistrate Kay Philipson was told the RSPCA planned to call 37 witnesses during the trial, and due to availability issues, they hoped the trial would go ahead in July.

Ms Philipson refused to set the trial date in July and questioned how the RSPCA intended to call upon 37 witnesses during a six-day trial.

Ms Philipson said the trial would start in June regardless of unavailabilities and urged RSPCA and solicitor Harrison Humphries to ‘figure it out’ among themselves.

RSPCA inspectors execute a search warrant at Pets Galore.

After countless delays, the trial is expected to start on June 19 to June 21 and will continue on June 26, through to June 28.

A trial review will be heard on Thursday, May 18.