Geronimo slaughtered an alpaca after losing its owner to a Supreme Court trial to save him | UK news

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The Supreme Court has ruled that an alpaca called Jeronimo, which has twice been tested positive for bovine tuberculosis, must be slaughtered.

The animal’s owner had pleaded for his rescue, believing the tests were giving false positives.

Helen Macdonald was refused permission to perform an animal test for the third time – but the court concluded there was “no prospect” of success in her attempt to overturn an earlier ruling.

Photo: Owner Helen MacDonald lost her legal attempt to save him

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it would not have to destroy Jeronimo today.

Ms MacDonald lost her last appeal in the Supreme Court earlier this month and a court order was issued for euthanasia.

More than 130,000 people signed a petition calling on the prime minister to stop the killing.

MacDonald, who owns a farm in Wickwar near Bristol, imported Jeronimo from New Zealand in 2017.

Yesterday the Supreme Court considered an urgent request for a temporary injunction to stay the destruction order – but the judge said she would need more information from Ms MacDonald and from the government’s attorney before she could make her decision.

The hearing was adjourned until today, when Lady Justice Stacey denied the request.

Ned Westaway, who represents the Defra executive of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha), said Ms MacDonald will be given the opportunity to make her own arrangements for the destruction of Jeronimo.

Geronimo first tested positive for bovine tuberculosis in September 2017 and has been in isolation ever since, according to the owner’s attorney.

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