11 June 2015
Panel: D Farquharson, K Wolsey, D Aurisch
Stewards today concluded an inquiry pertaining to six registered standardbreds owned by Darcel Lindau-Johnson and Alan Johnson.
After considering all the evidence available, Stewards charged Mrs Lindau-Johnson and Mr Johnson pursuant to AHR Rule 218 which reads:
“A person having responsibility for the welfare of a horse shall not fail to care for it properly”.
The specifics of the charge being that Mrs Darcel Lindau-Johnson and Mr Alan Johnson, as the registered owners of six registered standardbred horses present on a property, and therefore responsible for their welfare, failed to care for those horses properly.
A further charge was issued against Mrs Lindau-Johnson and Mr Johnson under AHR Rule 187(1) which reads:
“A person who is directed to do so by the Stewards shall attend an inquiry or investigation
convened or conducted by them.”
The specifics of the charge being that Mrs Darcel Lindau-Johnson and Mr Alan Johnson, failed to comply with a direction from Stewards to attend an inquiry at Deagon on 24 March, 2015.
Mrs Lindau-Johnson and Mr Johnson pleaded not guilty to all charges however Stewards were of the view that the charges could be sustained as issued and therefore found them guilty.
When considering the matter of penalty, Stewards were mindful of significant mitigating factors. In all the circumstances Stewards determined that a fine of $200 each be applied for the breach of Rule 187(1), and that no further action would be taken for the breach of Rule 218 conditional to the horses being removed from the relevant property by Friday, 19 June 2015. Stewards further advised that upon satisfying this condition, the embargo placed on all horses owned by Mrs Lindau-Johnson and Mr Johnson under Rule 183(c) would be lifted.
