The trial of four members of the Crawley and Horsham hunt opened today (25 August) at Crawley Magistrates Court, in West Sussex.
Jamie Hawksfield, joint-master of the Crawley and Horsham, who lives in Partridge Green, near Horsham, faces charges under the Hunting Act alongside fellow joint-master Neil Millard from Shipley, hunt secretary Rachel Holdsworth of Washington and former huntsman Andrew Phillis of Totnes.
Hunt saboteurs filmed them at three meets in January and February this year, allegedly using hounds to kill foxes illegally.
A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: “The Countryside Alliance and the whole hunting community stand shoulder to shoulder with the Crawley and Horsham hunt at this time and will continue to support them as court proceedings get underway.