Animal Cruelty Defense Reviews Star Witness' Rapport With Welfare League

In yet another twist to the animal cruelty case where a , defense attorney Purav Bhatt said he is looking into the relationship between the and the director of the Animal Welfare League.

Bhatt told Patch Tuesday, that he subpoenaed the Animal Welfare League employment records for , whose photographs and documentation of a  as a Cook County investigator helped to secure more than 30 charges related to animal cruelty and neglect against owner Dawn Hamill.

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Bhatt said he wants to review the records because Draus was hired by Animal Welfare League Director Linda Estrada after   and Estrada was present during the raid on Hamill's animal rescue. Bhatt did not have the exact date of Draus' hiring on hand, but said that he signed on with the Animal Welfare League this year.

“When he was relieved of his duties, she hired him,” Bhatt said. “Obviously, there is a relationship between them and I wanted to explore that.”

The state's attorney's office objected to turning over the records to Bhatt. But after reviewing them Monday, Judge Anna Demacopulos determined some of them could be relevant to the case, Bhatt said.

Estrada could not immediately be reached for comment. A spokesman for the state's attorney's office declined comment Tuesday.

Bhatt said Hamill will be back in court on Aug. 9 for pre-trial motions. A trial date has been tentatively set for Sept. 11.

Looking for more background on this case?

Read our extensive coverage of the Painted Pastures bust and ongoing court hearings.

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