Reptile & Amphibian Forums

did anyone else hear about this... sounds like he might be getting in some animal abuse trouble...

i dont know if any of you watched wrestling as a kid but i did and he abused the heck out of that snake... one of the worst cases of animal abuse i have ever seen and it was on tv of all places...

he should be punished...

shiloh

.

-Imp

he might have done the same thing 2 years ago but this is new news as of the 28th

shiloh

Wrestler Allowed Pet Python to Starve to Death - Court

By Vik Iyer, PA News

American wrestler Jake “the Snake” Roberts left his star serpent sidekick starving to death – and even had a phobia of his pet reptile, a court heard today.

The wrestler, once a star of the hugely popular World Wrestling Federation, had not fed his 15ft python for between seven and eight months, St Albans Magistrates’ Court was told.

The snake, which the Texan waved around before his wrestling bouts, also suffered mouth rot and was cooped up in an unsuitable tank. The snake died after being seized by RSPCA inspectors.

Roberts – real name Aurelian Smith Jnr – is accused of causing unnecessary suffering to his Burmese python between August and September last year.

The 48-year-old, who once performed in front of millions alongside stars like Hulk Hogan, did not attend today’s proceedings but the trial went ahead in his absence.

Valerie Burnham, 59, who lived with Roberts in White Horse Lane, London Colney, Hertfordshire denies the same charge.

Also in court is snake dealer Kevin Wicks, 30, who allegedly owned the snake and who also denies permitting unnecessary suffering to the animal.

Mr Bruce Kent, prosecuting, said: “The snake had a number of apparent difficulties which required treatment.

“It was severely debilitated and significantly underweight. That should have been apparent to those in possession of the snake.”

The court also heard that the snake was suffering from a heavy infestation of mites requiring veterinary treatment.

Mr Kent described Mrs Burnham and Roberts as “best friends and business partners doing everything together”.

The court was told that the snake was originally supplied for the purpose of business.

Mr Kent said: “Mr Smith is a wrestler by trade and used a snake in the course of his performance.”

Here's a link to that same story: http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2574167

The story is dated 2/25/04, and it refers to events that happened "between August and September last year [2003]." Which puts it almost 2 years ago.

-Imp

it was just on the news on the 28th... if he killed one 2 years ago it was a different snake... they did not talk about it much on the news but like i said... considering the facts it looks like he killed 2 snakes... plus he was just on wwe or what ever they call it not about 3 weeks ago with the snake..

shiloh