A three-year legal battle by Anthony Lauren fighting animal cruelty charges ended successfully yesterday, but left the former North Otago farmer facing "astronomical" financial costs and losses.
Although Mr Lauren was yesterday acquitted of charges which resulted from the deaths of more than 100 cows and calves from starvation in 2009 at Mt Belle farm near Kurow, which he leased, the 51-year-old said the long-running case had put him under "severe" financial strain.
The case, which had cost him $70,000 in legal fees, had also resulted in direct and indirect costs outside the courtroom.
He estimated that over the past three years, he had lost stock worth $50,000, plus $250,000 in lost income and an additional $80,000 in expenses associated with his run block.
"It [total of $450,000] is an astronomical amount of money."
Although it might be possible to recover the legal fees, the other costs were "a wipe-out", he said.
However, despite the financial burden, he was "relieved" he could get back to farming with a clear name.
"To be turned around and accused of something like this, mistreating stock, I mean I wouldn't be a farmer if I didn't love the stock I work with.
"The whole thing has just been a nightmare."
Mr Lauren has not been able to get a job on a farm since the start of the case and now works driving tractors.
He said the situation had threatened to end 20 years of hard work in the farming industry.
"I'm pleased that after three years the whole thing is finished with.
"Farmers and people that know me, know that I wouldn't allow stock under my control to go hungry like that.
"But I always knew that if I told the truth, the truth would come out.
"I can now go back to what I do and what I love doing."
