Pair accused in Winnipeg animal cruelty investigation plead guilty

WARNING: A Winnipeg couple has pleaded guilty to multiple animal cruelty charges. Joseph Bernacki reports.

WARNING: The following story contains material that may be disturbing to readers. Discretion is advised.

A man and woman charged in connection with animal cruelty in Winnipeg have pleaded guilty to multiple charges.

Irene Lima and Chad Kabecz both pleaded guilty Friday morning in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench to six charges of animal cruelty that took place over a six-month period. The remaining eight charges were stayed as the result of a plea bargain.

Mike Cook, a defence lawyer for the accused, said the guilty plea will hopefully lead to closure on the file.

“We’ve been working hard for the last year to avoid a lengthy, draining trial, so today we did that,” he told CTV News outside of the law courts.

The pair was arrested in October 2024 following a lengthy investigation by Winnipeg police.

At the time, police said more than 75 animals, mostly cats, were filmed and photographed being tortured or killed between May and October 2024. Police said Kabecz created an underground black market network, where people needed to submit a video of themselves killing an animal to gain access to the group.

Police seized hundreds of videos and photographs, as well as tens of thousands of encrypted communications from their home.

During the hearing, several animal rights activists were outside court protesting Kabecz and Lima.

Kristy Zamonsky, director of local animal rights group Project Artemis, said the group is hoping to raise awareness of animal abuse in the city.

“It’s pretty bad,” she said. “We want stiffer punishment, and we’re hoping that we can just be (animals’) voice.

“If it was people or children harmed, they would have a big support group outside. So we’re just trying to do that.”

Zamonsky said she wants harsher penalties for those convicted of animal cruelty. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, the maximum sentence is five years in prison. She said she is hoping for the maximum possible sentence for Kabecz and Lima.

Sentencing will take place at a later date.

With files from CTV’s Joseph Bernacki and Katherine Dow