RUMFORD – A criminal trial started last month against a Bethel man charged with several counts of animal abuse regarding his horses and cows continues at 8 a.m. today in Rumford District Court. The trial is expected to last all day, a clerk said on Friday.

According to court documents, charges against Larry G. Smith, 62, of 46 Vernon St., include:

• Depriving a horse, which died, of necessary food, medical attention, proper shelter, protection from the weather, and humanely clean conditions on July 22, 2006.

• Failing to do the same for two horses on the same day.

• Depriving a horse of the same necessities on Aug. 4, 2006, and for killing a horse inhumanely.

• Depriving a black Angus cow and its calf of food, medical attention, proper shelter, humanely clean conditions and protection from the weather on Aug. 5.

• Failing to provide proper shelter, protection from the weather, humanely clean conditions and necessary medical attention for a Belgian mare and her newborn foal on Dec. 8, 2006.

Bethel police officer Donald McCormick, who levied the charges against Smith, additionally filed a civil suit on Dec. 8, charging the same counts and also charging that Smith didn’t maintain a structurally sound shelter to house an animal and protect it from injury.

The case began on Aug. 2, with Judge John McElwee presiding, but time ran out before prosecutor Richard Beachesne could finish presenting witnesses and their testimonies. Those who testified on Aug. 2 include McCormick, Bethel officer Timothy Reese, Bethel police Chief Alan Carr, former Bethel code enforcement officer Richard St. John, veterinarian Rachel Flaherty of Maine Equine Associates in New Gloucester, and Smith’s neighbors Julie Kimball, and Dale and Heather Buck.

Beauchesne is expected to finish presenting the prosecution’s side today, then Smith’s lawyer, John Jenness, will begin the defense side.