Ben Close and Tom Walkling appear in monkey torture case

On 13^th November 2024, two defendants were sentenced for their part in sharing material depicting the torture of monkeys, and commissioning a torture video, utilising torture methods upon which they had voted with the ‘winner’ choosing the nature of the torture. The torture involved long-tailed macaques, typically infants, in Indonesia. 

Ben Close prosecuted and Tom Walkling represented the lead defendant. 

The case has garnered a lot of media attention, in the wake of a BBC documentary ‘The Monkey Haters’, which touched on the social media groups and individuals featured in this case. 

The court heard that when the case began it was the first of its kind, and it is the only known example of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence within the Serious Crime Act 2007, being prosecuted in conjunction with an offence contrary to Animal Welfare Act.

Further press coverage can be found via:

BBC News

The Guardian