WARNING: Details of this case are disturbing. Discretion is advised.
It was an emotional day in court for a B.C. woman whose ex-partner was found responsible for killing her dog.
Randeep Ghataura was convicted of killing, wounding or injuring an animal in October 2024.
On Friday, he was sentenced to four months in jail, three years probation, a 20-year ban on owning or possessing any animals and he must also pay the costs his ex bore for having the critically injured dog euthanized.
“For no reason that has been expressed to this court, Mr. Ghataura killed a dog who did not weigh nine pounds by hitting it in the head with a shoe… and left her for several hours before she could be humanely euthanized,” Judge Ellen Gordon said in B.C. Provincial Court on Friday.
Ghataura declined to address the court.
Crown had asked for eight months in jail, three years probation and a 20-year ban on owning and possessing animals.
Prosecutor Jim Cryder told the court Ghataura refused to disclose the offence to anyone – including his family.
Referencing a pre-sentence report, Cryder said Ghataura denies the offence and instead blames Chiasson’s “misjudgement” for Tacori’s death.
Defence counsel suggested an eight to 12-month conditional sentence order, telling the court they could go as high as two years less a day.
When Dale Melville said Ghataura is the breadwinner for his wife and three young children as he argued for house arrest, the judge interrupted him to remind the court of the facts of the case.
Gordon said Chiasson met Ghataura on a dating app where he had advertised himself as single and looking for a long-term relationship.
Chiasson did some Facebook snooping said the judge, and discovered Ghataura seemed to be married and living with his spouse and children.
After the dog’s death, Gordon said Melville’s client eventually phoned Chiasson and confessed, in a call she recorded.
Ghataura claimed he had told his father, who said his son was under some sort of voodoo hex at the time.
Ghataura also confessed to police.
Get breaking National news
“I convicted your client of killing a dog,” said Gordon. “Your client confessed to killing the dog by hitting it in the head with a shoe.”
Melville told the court his client is employed and has strong family support, prompting the judge to ask if Ghataura had told his family about the offence.
When defence replied ‘yes’, Gordon asked ‘when?’ and Melville said approximately one week ago.
The judge noted that as of Jan. 15, Ghataura had not advised his wife of the crime.
About five years ago, Ghataura was in a relationship with Jeannine Chiasson, who owned a Chihuahua named Tacori.
The couple had broken up when Chiasson said Ghataura went to her place to drop off some items.
Chiasson wasn’t home at the time but she said Ghataura entered anyway.
She said he later called her and told her that Tacori was acting strangely. In court, Crown revealed that when Ghataura was asked about what happened, he said he “maybe” hit the dog with a shoe.
Chiasson rushed home and said she found the little dog hunched over with red eyes.
She rushed her to the vet but was told the Chihuahua was in medical distress and there was nothing they could do to save her.
Tacori had to be put to sleep.
In court, Chiasson read a victim impact statement and shared that statement outside the court.
She said she never thought she would face such evil or have to enter into the fight of her life just to find peace someday.
“That last night I had with Tacori I asked her for one last kiss while I cried uncontrollably, and then she reached out and licked my nose, and then her head fell into the palm of my hand, she died,” Chiasson said.
She added that she didn’t even want to live after what happened with her dog. She sought out therapy and her doctor put her on antidepressants but she said they made her feel horrible.
“What has happened to me is going to stay with me for the rest of my life,” Chiasson said. “But I have made a decision that I am no longer a victim. I am now a survivor because I am a strong person and I am a fighter.”
She added that she knows Tacori is looking down and is proud of her and wants her to be happy.
“I didn’t fight this hard and survive everything to be broken,” Chiasson said. “I was strong and I survived to tell the story that Tacori could not.”
Speaking outside of court on Friday after the verdict was announced Chiasson said it still brings tears to her eyes.
“Justice has been served,” she said, “it has been served.”
Chiasson said that it shocked her to see Ghataura because he still didn’t seem to show any remorse.
“There wasn’t a tear in his eye, the only thing that he said was ‘The cuffs are too tight, it’s hurting my arm.’ That was his only remorse.”
Since Tacori’s death, Chiasson said she has been fighting for justice. She said she was turned away by multiple lawyers who told her she was never going to win.
“To actually see the cuffs go on and to know that somebody actually believes you, and they’re going to fight for an innocent animal that couldn’t fight for themselves, that suffered for five hours, holding on to life, waiting for me to come home, that was everything.
“It was absolutely everything and it was justice.”
Comments