Not actual picture of molested goat.
After discovering a naked man with his pregnant goat on Friday, January 2, 2015, a Desruisseaux, Micoud resident said he is discouraged to establish a fully-fledged goat farming business out of sheer fear for the safety of the animals.
Kensley Neptune, also known as Kay, is a regular bus driver on the Vieux Fort-Castries route, but he had big plans of supplementing his income by expanding his goat-rearing into a business enterprise, based on the demand for local goat meat. However, after last week’s incident, he no longer believes his animals are safe.
“I was supposed to build a pen and make it a business… have a little garden, but all that is messed up,” Neptune, a father of one, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Monday.
Neptune said the situation is no laughing matter. ”It’s discouraging. I don’t have anymore motivation,” he said.
The 40-year-old, who owns two female goats and one male, explained that on Friday at about 3:50 p.m. he caught a man naked with his pregnant goat on family land near his house.
Neptune said the goat was tied to a tree by a long rope, but the perpetrator skilfully tied the rope in a way that the goat would be closer to the tree. The man was at one point kneeling behind the goat in a ‘back-shot’ position.
“He tied the goat to a tree by the neck, shortening the rope and let the loose part hang. He also tied the goat’s back legs. I found him stooping behind the goat. He was naked,” he explained.
Neptune said after quickly taking pictures of the man with his cell phone for evidence, he confronted the man physically to prevent him from taking further advantage on the animal.
“I beat him,” he said, “I gave him a few lashes with my cutlass and he ran.”
The man escaped totally naked. Neptune then brought the photos and the man’s clothes to the Micoud Police Station and made a report.
When Neptune returned to the scene with the police, the man was long gone. He was however nabbed not long after – and joined the goat in police custody.
“When they got him he had clothes on him already,” Neptune noted.
The following day (Saturday, Jan. 3), a veterinarian examined the goat at the police station. Neptune said the doctor discovered that the goat showed signs of recent penetration.
The 50-year-old perpetrator was released from police custody on the morning of Monday, Jan. 5. Neptune did not proceed with the matter. He said he was advised that the man is mentally ill and bringing the matter to court would be a waste of his time and money.
Neptune said the ‘victim’ was scheduled to give birth next month. He said the veterinarian told him a “flush” procedure will be done on the goat. Though Neptune does not understand what the “flush” procedure means, he said it is likely that efforts will be made to save the unborn kids before putting the mother down.
He however plans to keep the two other goats. He does not believe they were sexually assaulted.
In light of the incident, and the fact that the perpetrator is freed, Neptune said he has already carried out plans to safeguard his goats. He has not only tied the animals closer to his house, he is now bringing them grass.
And it is no easy task.
“It’s really hard for me. I am a bus driver. I leave my house minutes to six on a week day. Now I have to cut grass from in the evening for the goats,” he said.
Despite encouragement from others not to give up, Neptune said he does not trust his goats out of his sight or too far from his home, a move that could jeopardise the nutrition of the goats and plans to expand his goat-rearing business plan.
Neptune said he bought a “mother goat” in November 2013 and it gave birth to two kids in February 14, 2014 (on Valentine’s Day).
Meantime, police sources said investigation will continue, but that does not ease the fears of Neptune, who confirmed that he has heard rumours that the perpetrator is notorious for committing bestiality. Other residents also confirmed these rumours.
One resident told SNO that she is not surprised because “it is something he does all the time”.
A law enforcement source is however not pleased with the outcome of the matter. The source believes the crime is just as serious as the rape of a human being, and is urging other goat owners to be on the lookout now that the offender is back on the streets.
“Sex with an animal is a crime against the State and the matter should have been taken to the court. The police don’t need the approval of the animal owner to prosecute. It looks like an excuse for police to make a short cut with a case. You don’t need the owner of the animal to want to go to court,” the source opined.
This is not the first time a man has been arrested for such an allegation.
In late October 2013, police confirmed that a young man was arrested for having sex with a sheep in Bexon. The man, believed to be in his early 20′s, faced a charge of bestiality.
Reports on SNO at the time stated that the police was scheduled to collect fluid from the sheep to test for semen.