Animal welfare advocates picket at Winnipeg law courts ahead of animal cruelty case

Protestors demonstrated outside the law courts ahead of a brief court appearance by a lawyer representing a Winnipeg woman accused of animal cruelty.

Animal welfare advocates demonstrated outside the Winnipeg law courts Friday ahead of the latest legal proceeding for a Manitoba woman accused of torturing and killing animals on camera.

Defence lawyer Emilie Cook appeared on behalf of Irene Lima, who was not present in the courtroom.

The Crown sought a direct indictment on the case, which moves the matter to the Court of King’s Bench and directly to trial, skipping preliminary hearings.

It has now been remanded to April 11.

The 55-year-old was arrested alongside Chad Kabecz, 40, in October. The couple was charged with several animal cruelty offences following an investigation by the Winnipeg Police Service.

According to investigators, electronics were seized from the couple’s home and analyzed. They say hundreds of videos and photographs were found, along with tens of thousands of encrypted communications.

Investigators allege Kabecz created an underground black-market network where people had to submit a video of themselves killing an animal to get access.

They allege Kabecz and Lima organized the content creation, shared it, and profited from it.

More than 75 animals were filmed or photographed being tortured and killed between May and October of 2024, police say.

The pair was re-arrested a month later and charged with additional offences, including bestiality and possession of child sex abuse material.

Police say Lima and Kabecz discussed their intention to torture a child.

Lima previously applied for bail in December but was denied. A Manitoba judge also ordered her not to have contact with Kabecz.

- With files from CTV’s Jeff Keele and Charles Lefebvre