New trial ordered for B.C. man convicted in killing of ex-girlfriend’s chihuahua

A British Columbia man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend's chihuahua will have a new trial after the BC Court of Appeal overturned the original conviction. Randeep Ghataura, 45, was found guilty in October 2024 of willfully killing an animal and received a four-month jail sentence, three years of probation, and a 20-year ban on owning animals. He was released on bail shortly after sentencing.

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The record does not demonstrate how the trial judge came to the conclusion that the appellant acted “willfully”.

Ghataura appealed the conviction, arguing the trial judge did not properly consider the mental element of the crime and misinterpreted expert evidence. The original trial found Ghataura admitted to striking the dog, resulting in its injury. However, the appeal court unanimously agreed that the trial judge's reasons were insufficient regarding the "mens rea," or the mental state, required for the offense. This includes proving Ghataura intended to injure the dog, knew his actions would likely cause injury, or was reckless to that outcome.

"The record does not demonstrate how the trial judge came to the conclusion that the appellant acted 'willfully,'" Justice Peter H. Edelmann stated in the judgment. He added that the consideration of the mental element was critical due to the nature of the expert evidence and the available inferences. The court could not discern how the judge reached their conclusion from the evidence presented.

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To say this is disappointing is an understatement.

While Ghataura sought an acquittal, the appeal court ordered a new trial. The case stems from an incident on March 25, 2020, when Ghataura entered his ex-girlfriend Jeannine Chiasson's apartment and allegedly struck her chihuahua, Tacori, with a shoe. Chiasson rushed the dog to a veterinarian, but Tacori, weighing less than nine pounds, suffered severe injuries and had to be euthanized. Two years later, Chiasson recorded a conversation where Ghataura admitted to hitting the dog "a couple of times when I didn’t like the way he behaved…maybe with a shoe." He was arrested shortly after and made a spontaneous statement to police admitting he had hurt the dog badly because it was misbehaving.

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I had hit the dog on the head a couple of times when I didn’t like the way he behaved…maybe with a shoe.