By JANE SIMS, SUN MEDIA
A zookeeper turned a London courtroom into a circus yesterday as she delivered a defiant speech about God and her own "dominion over the animals."
Shirley McElroy, controversial owner of the Lickety-Split Ranch and Zoo in southeast London, read from neatly handwritten notes on blue paper she balanced on her paperback Bible.
As she spoke, a small group of animal rights activists holding signs of protest against Lickety-Split gathered outside London's provincial offences court.
McElroy, wearing a festive knit vest, made a brief court appearance charged with possession of native wildlife without a licence under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
She faces a maximum fine of $25,000 if convicted.
McElroy planned to have the case adjourned to January, but the proceedings quickly turned into a sideshow.
Justice of the Peace Helen Gale invited McElroy to step forward when the case was called. McElroy wouldn't come to the microphone, telling Gale she would speak from the front row of the courtroom.
Then she launched into her speech, speaking rapidly about her rights, Jehovah and Genesis 1:26, which refers to humans having control over all animals.
Gale repeatedly asked McElroy to step forward, then, when McElroy wouldn't listen, told her "this court is not a podium."
After several attempts to politely interrupt McElroy, Gale stood up and walked out of the courtroom, telling the clerk she would return "when she's finished."
McElroy soldiered on, saying the court wanted her to give up her "God-given right."
Once McElroy finished, Gale returned and said "with the greatest respect to Ms. McElroy, this is not the appropriate forum for Scripture to be recited."
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