Man keeps gun to defend property; Judge
Date: Feb 2, 2007 10:07 AM
PUBLICATION: Cape Breton Post
DATE: 2007.02.02
SECTION: Glace Bay/New Waterford
PAGE: A9
SOURCE: cape breton post
BYLINE: Steve MacInnis
DATELINE: SYDNEY
WORD COUNT: 235

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Man keeps gun to defend property; Judge urges South Head man to show
restraint

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A Cape Breton man who has a problem with teenagers and coyotes invading
his property was allowed to keep his gun Thursday as a measure of
protection against one of the offending parties.

Laurie Franklin Lloyd, 71, of South Head, was handed an eight-month
conditional sentence after pleading guilty to a single count of using a
firearm in a careless manner after he fired a single shot in the air to
scare teens away from his isolated property.

In passing sentence, provincial court Judge David Ryan urged Lloyd to
use restraint the next time he’s confronted with unruly teens.

At the request of defence lawyer Alan Nicholson, Ryan agreed that
Lloyd’s 30-30 Marlin rifle can be returned to him in order to protect
his farm livestock from coyotes.

Lloyd owns some 47 acres of land in South Head, which is located near
Port Morien on Cape Breton’s rugged and rustic eastern shore. Nicholson
explained to the court that coyote attacks have already claimed nearly
30 of Lloyd’s hens along with killing several other farm animals.

He said his client is fully licensed to own and carry a weapon and has
permission from the provincial Department of Natural Resources to kill
coyotes which threaten his livestock.

Teens are also attracted to Lloyd’s property because of its isolation.
However, Ryan warned Lloyd he is no longer permitted to scare them away
with his gun.

Lloyd himself apologized for his actions and said he never meant to harm
anyone.

If he remains trouble free for the next eight months, his discharge will
be made absolute, meaning he will not have a criminal record.