Mark Troman assisted a man who had not instructed solicitors in advance of a magistrates’ court plea hearing.  The sentence was imposed immediately after his plea at the first hearing and so he had not time to prepare a response to the application to destroy his beloved pet.  When he came to us we were able to lodge the appeal before the order was carried out and then secured state funding for an experience veterinarian to assess the dog and her findings persuaded the judge to reverse the order on appeal and save the animal.