Farmer fined for trapping and painting hawks  By Sonita Chander
of Dannevirke News  File photo / NZ Herald File photo / NZ
Herald  The SPCA has been awarded $5000, and is likely to
receive more, following sentencing of Grant Michael Teahan, the
Dannevirke farmer convicted of trapping and painting harrier
hawks.  In December, Teahan was found guilty in the Dannevirke
District Court on two charges of ill-treating native hawks so
they suffered unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.
After hearing testimony from several crown witnesses including a
specialist computer forensic specialist, Judge Geoff Rea
reserved his decision.  Teahan was fined $2500 on each charge
when he appeared for sentencing in the Dannevirke District Court
yesterday but could face having to pay up to $15,000 in costs.
Judge Rea said further submissions needed to be made in relation
to costs and reserved his decision in awarding costs.  Defence
counsel, Sacha Beacham was absent in court but Brian Webby
appeared on her behalf.  "While