On March 25, 2020, a disturbing incident unfolded in Cochrane. Bernard Bonny, a local farmer, found one of his heifer calves in a deeply distressing situation. Having left two of his cows in a separate part of the savannah earlier that day, Bonny responded to distressed noises from one of the mother cows upon his return.
Following the cow’s distressed calls and fresh tracks, Bonny discovered a sight that shook him deeply. He found Randolph Piper with his pants down, and his calf tied to a tree. Shockingly, Piper attempted to bribe Bonny, repeating the phrase “I will pay you…. I will pay you.” Bonny quickly reported the incident to the authorities, leading to Piper’s arrest.
Subsequent examination of the calf by Dr. Lennox St. Aimee, the acting chief vet at the time, confirmed the abuse. The calf had a hemorrhagic lesion on the mucosa of its vagina, indicative of penetration by a blunt, smooth object, leading to Dr. St. Aimee’s recommendation against the calf’s slaughter for human consumption.
Piper was arrested on July 17, 2020, and during questioning, admitted to committing the act of bestiality. Following his admission, he was brought before the court on July 20, 2020, and ordered to undergo evaluation at the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU) for a period of two weeks.
Post-evaluation, Piper was granted bail on November 2, 2020, in the sum of $20,000, with his formal indictment on a charge of “bestiality” following on April 28, 2023. Ahead of sentencing, the court ordered a social inquiry report to be prepared. The conclusion of this harrowing case saw Piper sentenced to five months in prison by High Court Judge Justice Thomas Astaphan, after he pleaded guilty to the charge. This sentencing underscores the gravity of such animal abuses and the strong stance taken by the court against such acts.
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