A picture taken of Lloyd Slonski (middle) leaving Prince Albert Provincial Court on Monday. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Trapping

Verdict reserved in illegal trapping case

Nov 1, 2022 | 2:00 PM

A man accused of illegally trapping and snaring animals in an area northeast of Prince Albert, is now awaiting judgment.

Lloyd Slonski’s trial wrapped up Monday afternoon at Prince Albert Provincial Court. The judge will render his decision on Jan. 23.

The offences dates back to between Dec. 28, 2020 and Jan. 28, 2021, and happened in the Weirdale area, also known as the Fort à la Corne Wildlife Management unit.

Slonski’s seven charges relate to trapping in an area to which only members of James Smith Cree Nation had permission to be in, and using a type of snare for which he did not have a licence to use. Among the animals found in his possession were a wolf and a coyote.

The 63-year-old is also accused of using dead deer as bait (road kill) and not reporting it within the required seven days. Citing numerous pictures, videos and testimony from conservation officers, prosecutor Matthew Miazga said there is no doubt Slonski broke the law.

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Accusing the prosecutor of taking a “shotgun approach”, by laying a bunch of charges and hoping one sticks, defence lawyer Peter Abrametz took issue with the language used to describe the charges, adding to this day Slonski himself was still not clear on what he was accused of doing.

Abrametz added the boundary lines within the wildlife management unit are not well defined and the technology used to track illegal activities was not reliable or consistent. He also stated there was no evidence to support the claim Slonski did not report his use of the dead deer as bait.

If found guilty, Slonski faces fines and the suspension of his trapping licence.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell