R v Pacific Meat Co, 1957 BCSC, 119 CCC 237

Leading case on the Crown’s burden of establishing ‘unnecessary’ suffering.

PMC operates a slaughter house for hogs. During the slaughtering process, hogs are shackled, dangled in the air as they are hoisted, and struck against a metal wall. Then, a person designated as a sticker cuts the hogs’ throats with a knife. It was alleged that this process causes hogs unnecessary harm and suffering.