East Aurora, N.Y. - Beth Hoskins was back in town court in Aurora on Tuesday, just as she's been on and off for the past three years, ever since the SPCA seized 73 of her horses.
Tuesday marked the start of the fourth year of Hoskins' trial on animal cruelty charges. Following a raid on her farm, the SPCA seized her horses, charging that they were malnourished and mistreated.
To give you an idea of just how long has this case been going on, when it started Tom Golisano still owned the Sabres, Chris Collins was County Executive and Chris Lee was still in congress.
Barbara Carr, SPCA: "I've never seen anything like it. It seems like there's always something that gets in the way of moving things forward."
Over the past three years, there has been delay upon adjournment upon postponement.
Here are some of the reasons why:
* The case is being tried in town court which is in session only a few afternoons every week.
* Hoskins has changed lawyers a number of times.
* Hoskins is also facing civil charges for the cost of caring for her horses by the SPCA.
* And because each horse represents a separate count against Hoskins, her attorney and the D.A.'s office have been going through the case horse by horse, sometimes hoof by hoof.
D.A. Frank Sedita: "All of the adjournments and all of the delays have been due to the defense in this case. We have sought not to waste the court's time."
Sedita says he offered a deal to Hoskins where she would plead guilty to two of the 74 misdemeanor counts, but that Hoskins rejected it.
Scott Brown: "People say your office should be going after murderers and rapists and robbers, why are we spending three years on this?"
D.A. Frank Sedita: "My office is going after murderers and rapists and robbers. this case has had no effect on the overall operation of the office, particularly the felony trial operation of the office and the serious felonies. I'm not going to cave in and not try the case when the evidence indicates that I should try the case."
Now there could, maybe, perhaps, be an end in sight.
The D.A.'s office finished with its case on Monday and Hoskins' defense began Tuesday afternoon.
Hoskins' attorney, Tom Eoannou, says his case won't be nearly as involved as the prosecution's and that the case could be wrapped up in three weeks.
Local Attorney Mike Taheri says no matter how the case ends, there won't be any winners.
Mike Taheri: "When you look at amount of resources that have been used on both sides, including the judicial resources, there's not going to be any happy outcome in this case."
The SPCA says it's spent about $900,000 caring for Hoskins' horses over the past three years.
Meanwhile, this week Hoskins sued the SPCA, asking for two billion, that's billion with a 'B' in damages.