Man accused of beating raccoons misses court appearance

A Toronto man accused of beating a family of raccoons in his backyard missed his court appearance Thursday morning.

Through his lawyer, Dong Nguyen told the court he has the flu.

The homeowner faces animal cruelty and weapons charges in connection with an alleged attack on raccoons on his Rankin Crescent property, near Bloor Street West and Lansdowne Avenue.

Last month, Crown lawyers told a court they would treat the charges as summary offences, which are less serious than indictable ones.

If convicted of animal cruelty, a judge could sentence Nguyen to as many as two years in jail.

Early on June 1, Nguyen’s neighbours called police and reported seeing a man attacking raccoons with a shovel.

Animal services said one baby raccoon had broken toes and was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre to recover.

The mother raccoon took her other kits away, and their condition was not known.

Nguyen will be back in court on Sept. 8.

With files from The Canadian Press

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