Winnipeg pair sentenced to 12 years in prison on animal cruelty charges

A Winnipeg pair have been sentenced after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges. CTV’s Joseph Bernacki was in court and has more.

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

A Winnipeg man and woman who pleaded guilty to multiple charges of animal cruelty last year learned their sentence in the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba Wednesday afternoon.

Irene Lima and Chad Kabecz have both been sentenced to 12 years in prison on six charges of animal cruelty, with credit for time served in custody. The pair pleaded guilty in November 2025.

“I cannot begin to perceive the suffering,” Justice Jeffrey Harris said when delivering his sentence following an emotional two-hour hearing in a packed courtroom.

The pair also received a lifetime ban on owning, possessing or being near animals, Harris said.

Here are the latest updates from the hearing.

2:15 p.m.

Lawyers believe case will be precedent-setting in Canada

The lawyer representing Lima believes the case and the sentencing will become a precedent-setting case in Canada.

“I firmly believe this case will be the leading case on cruelty to animals, probably for the next 100 years,” Mike Cook said following the verdict.

Cook said the challenge in finding a precedent for sentencing was the sheer number of animals killed in the case. Court heard 90 animals were killed by Lima and Kabecz.

“Try as we might, we couldn’t find anything remotely close to this,” he said. “There’s one case where a fellow had killed about 15 animals; that’s a far cry from 90.”

Ethan Pollock, who represented Kabecz, said the nature of the case was hard on him.

“The evidence we had to comb through, the videos that we had to watch and the photograph packages we had to review—it’s hard to watch, hard to look at,” he said. “Everyone’s an animal lover, I know I am, so it was definitely hard to review all that stuff.”

Kristy Zamonsky, director of local animal rights group Project Artemis, was pleased with Wednesday’s verdict.

“I think the precedent was set,” she said outside the courthouse. “Everyone was worried about five years (prison sentence), and they got 12, which is amazing.

“You haven’t seen that in Manitoba. You’ll probably never see it again, but hopefully it was the start to something changing.”

Zamonsky said she helped write a community impact statement for the Winnipeg Humane Society that was read in court.

“I think it spoke to exactly what we wanted to say,” she said. “It was about the animals and the lives that they lost, and making sure people don’t forget.”

The Winnipeg Humane Society weighed in on the case in a statement, saying it’s the highest sentence ever handed down in Canada for animal cruelty.

The previous record in Canada was given to Aleeta Raugust in Calgary, Alta. in 2023 after she was found guilty of torturing and killing multiple cats. She was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.

“The impact of animal cruelty cases causes ripples,” the nonprofit organization writes.

“It touches animal rescues, pet owners, and every person in Winnipeg who believes animals deserve protection and compassion.”

1:20 p.m.

Parents of Lima confronted outside of courtroom

Family members of Lima were confronted by protesters after the sentence was read, prompting Winnipeg police to break it up.

An unidentified protester allegedly turned to the family and said “You bastards,” with a shouting match ensuing.

The shouting continued outside of the courtroom and lasted for a few seconds until sheriffs broke it up.

The courtroom was made up of family members of the two convicted, law school students, media and animal rights protesters.

12:00 p.m.

Lima, Kabecz apologize in court statements

Both Lima and Kabecz read prepared statements in court following submissions from their lawyers.

“I have hurt my family and angered many people and I am deeply sorry for causing so much hurt and anger,” Lima said in a nearly three-minute statement read in court.

“There is not a day I wish I could go back and change everything.”

Lima said her arrest changed everything.

“Prison saved my life,” she said.

An emotional Kabecz said there is no justification for the crime.

“I made my own choices to be involved,” he said, “I hold no animosity or anger towards Irene. I pray for her and for her safety every single day.”

Kabecz also addressed Lima’s parents in his statement.

“I owe them a huge apology,” he said.

Justice Jeffrey Harris has called for a 15-minute recess.

11:40 a.m.

Lawyer for Kabecz calls for 12-year sentence

The lawyer representing Chad Kabecz is also calling for a 12-year sentence for his client.

“Twelve years is an incredibly serious sanction, and it is warranted,” Ethan Pollock told the court.

Pollock said Kabecz is not blaming Lima for anything.

“He takes full responsibility for his actions,” Pollock said.

Lima is now set to speak.

11:30 a.m.

‘They knew what was going on’

Mike Cook, the defence counsel for Lima, believes she and Kabecz should serve the same sentence.

“They knew what was going on; they were partners in this enterprise,” he told the court.

Cook called it a watershed case for the system.

“There is no case to compare and contrast this,” he said.

Ethan Pollock, the lawyer representing Kabecz, is starting to speak.

11:05 a.m.

‘Not an easy case for any of us’

Mike Cook, the defence counsel for Lima, acknowledged that many people are traumatized by the case.

“It has not been an easy case for any of us,” he said. “It’s one of those cases that gets to the very core of our being.”

Cook said Lima’s parents are in the courtroom, and they are “shocked beyond belief” at the details of the case.

“How could their dear daughter fall so low?” Cook said.

Cook asked for Lima, who has been in jail since Nov. 26, 2024, to be transferred to Edmonton to serve her sentence, saying there isn’t a federal women’s penitentiary in Manitoba.

The sentencing hearing continues Wednesday morning.

10:50 a.m.

‘They would’ve felt terror’

During the hearing, Crown prosecutor Boyd McGill read a community impact statement from the Winnipeg Humane Society, which discussed the psychological impact of the deaths on the animals.

“Animal victims would’ve suffered extreme anxiety; death was not instantaneous,” McGill read. “They would’ve felt terror trying to escape their abuser.”

Lima and Kabecz are sitting in separate boxes in court and appear subdued. They have not yet spoken.

Defence counsel for Lima and Kabecz are set to speak.

10:30 a.m.

Crown asking for 12-year sentence for pair

Crown prosecutors are asking for a 12-year prison sentence for a Winnipeg man and woman who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges last year.

Speaking in the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Wednesday morning, the Crown also called for a lifetime prohibition on owning animals for Lima and Kabecz.

Lima and Kabecz pleaded guilty in November 2025 to six charges of animal cruelty. Eight other charges were stayed because of a plea bargain.

The pair was arrested in October 2024 following a Winnipeg Police Service investigation.

According to police, more than 75 animals – mostly cats – were photographed and filmed being tortured or killed over the span of six months. Officers said Kabecz also created an underground black market network where people would submit a video of themselves killing an animal to access the group.

During the investigation, police seized hundreds of videos and photos, along with tens of thousands of encrypted communications from the pair’s home.