Islander denies illegal slaughter of livestock 24/10/13
An islander has denied operating an illegal abattoir in a barn on his family croft on the west side of Lewis.
Norman Campbell, of 15B Arnol, Lewis, is on trial accused of breaching strict food safety rules.
The 24-year islander denies four charges over the safety of food intended for human consumption.
He also pleads not guilty to three alleged breaches of regulations covering slaughterhouse techniques aimed at preventing the spread of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) which can cause a brain disease fatal to sheep.
On Wednesday, Stornoway Sheriff Court heard an SSPCA official discovered 77 sheep heads on the croft in November 2011. Some 32 carcasses were also found.
Campbell maintains the meat was intended for his family’s own use and that he was not running an unlicensed commercial slaughterhouse.
A witness was too ill to give evidence so the trial has been adjourned for six weeks.