SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man charged with stealing and killing a dog, among other offences, won a small victory in territorial court on Tuesday as the charge of bestiality was dropped from the case.

After the court appearance, Lloyd Brandon Thrasher's lawyer Stephen Shabala criticized the Crown for laying the charge of bestiality on Feb. 3 in the first place.

"It (the bestiality charge) shouldn't have been laid because there was no evidentiary basis, and unfortunately it caused Mr. Thrasher embarrassment," he said.

However, Crown prosecutor Janice Walsh defended laying the charge. "The investigation is ongoing. The charge was laid and the investigation revealed evidence that didn't support the charge, so it was withdrawn," she said.

On Jan. 27, 2011, an individual entered a vehicle parked in front of Twist Resto-Lounge and stole and killed a dog belonging to a Yellowknife woman.

Thrasher, 23, is also charged with possession of a stolen Sanyo cell phone and with possession of a stolen DVD collection and a change holder.

Two additional charges have also been added to the court docket for Thrasher to speak to . He is accused of stealing a White Ford Windstar on Nov. 26, 2010 and was allegedly found in the possession of the van in Behchoko the next day. He was charged for the offences on Dec. 8, 2010.

After the brief court appearance on Tuesday, as Thrasher was leaving the courtroom, headed back to the courthouse prisoner cells and then back to the North Slave Correctional Centre, he turned to the packed courtroom and said "peace." Thrasher's next appearance in territorial court will be March 1, 2011.

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