I'm A Celebrity's D'Acampo and Manning face rat charges

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I'm A Celebrity's D'Acampo and Manning face rat charges


Manning and D'Acampo allegedly ate the rat as part of a meal

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! winner Gino D'Acampo and Stuart Manning face charges of animal cruelty after cooking and eating a rat in the show. The RSPCA in New South Wales, Australia, said it was "not acceptable" that a rat had been killed by the pair as part of a performance.
Police confirmed they had issued court attendance notices for 3 February 2010.
The Italian chef and actor ate the rat after they were "exiled" and reduced to rations of rice and beans on the show.
D'Acampo, 33, told the show's video diary room, the Bush Telegraph: "I saw one of these rats running around. I got a knife, I got its throat, I picked it up."
The "exiled" group, including 30-year-old Manning, ate the rat as part of a meal.
Ch Insp David Oshannessy, from the RSPCA in New South Wales, told BBC Radio 5 live there was a "code of practice" which dictated how animals could be used in theatrical productions and films.
"The killing of a rat for a performance is not acceptable. The concern is this was done purely for the cameras," he said.
'Ongoing'
The charity sends staff whenever animals are used for filmed or live performances, he said, and so had been in contact with the programme's producers before the rat was killed.
"Production staff have to summit a notification form to the RSPCA or Animal Welfare League - both are charged with responsibilities under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
"But we received no pre-notice or advice this segment was going to occur, it happened on a day no animals were featuring in production, so we didn't have an officer there," he said.
Inquiries were "very much ongoing" and the RSPCA was not "ruling out" further charges against the production company ITV, he added.
A spokesman added: "Police from Murwillumbah yesterday issued field court attendance notices to two men aged 30 and 33 for the offence of animal cruelty.
"They are due to attend court at Murwillumbah local court on 3 February 2010."
An ITV spokesperson said: "The Australian RSPCA are currently investigating an incident that a rat was killed in the camp."



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8397691.stm

[Greyfox]

Saw this earlier. How pathetic!

[flumperino]

Oh shit....I just hoovered up a spider...I'll be expecting a swat team to arrive by helicopter and smash through the windows any minute!

[blaggard]

Australia is an enigma, in some respects it is Neolithic in it's attitudes and in others right at the front of the PC queue!!

[petey85]

Cruelty to a rat? Man, I though things were crazy in this country?! The Aussies are a strange breed - no wonder we deported them.

[Mr Men]

I always thought rats were vermin so killing them would be ok, And eating thems just a bonus if you like that sort of thing

[KLL8]

What a load of rubbish. How many bugs got killed with them eating them or laying on them in the show and some of the bush trials. How far are we going to go human rights and animal rights. Everything has a right except us ( if you know what I mean )

[Mr Men]

What a load of rubbish. How many bugs got killed with them eating them or laying on them in the show and some of the bush trials. How far are we going to go human rights and animal rights. Everything has a right except us ( if you know what I mean )

I know what you mean Does spunk(sperm) Have a human right? MINE IN QUESTION?

Do the producers of Starship Troopers get prosicuted for there abuse of insects while filming? NO I rest my case

[biffo1]

they should be thanking them there rodants that spread disease crulerty my fucking arse

[B B Leo]

they are vermin get over it !!!!!

[Cenus_]

It would be interesting to see what the resposnes were in this thread if it had been a cat or dog that had been killed and eaten.

[coin-op]

It would be interesting to see what the resposnes were in this thread if it had been a cat or dog that had been killed and eaten.

Especially since the report reckons the rat was a humanized rat used for the trials - i.e. almost a pet.

[petey85]

If the TV company provided the rat for them to eat, then they're the ones who lied to the RSPA about having animals on the show, and they have broken the law too. So why aren't they in court but the contestants are?
Corporations can get away with anything it seems - just look at the banks here. The judicial system has its hands tied, the regulators are as corrupt as the corporations, and the government are a bunch of pussies.