The case against 60-year-old Michael Anthony Holmes commenced in the Queanbeyan Local Court. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged animal cruelty.
A man will fight animal cruelty charges after he was accused of dragging a kangaroo behind a car north of Canberra.
Michael Anthony Holmes, a 60-year-old from the Queanbeyan-Palerang region, entered pleas of not guilty when the case against him was first heard in court.
Earlier this year, NSW Police said a woman had been walking along Millynn Road in Bywong, a rural locality about 30 km northeast of Canberra, on 13 April, when she found a badly injured kangaroo.
She contacted a wildlife rescue service, and the kangaroo was collected and taken to Bungendore.
Police were contacted that evening and attended the wildlife rescue organisation.
“The kangaroo suffered severe lacerations to its rib and hip area and died shortly before police arrived,” a police spokesperson said at the time.
Mr Holmes was issued a court attendance notice for his charges two days later.
Police alleged he tied the kangaroo to the back of his car and dragged it from a property to the road, about 400 metres, while the animal was still alive.
In the Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday (26 May), the court heard he would enter not guilty pleas to his charges of recklessly beating, causing prolonged suffering and committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal.
The matter was adjourned for a mention on 14 July.
@Penfold You obviously have a complete handle on that Australia Institute report, so perhaps you can… View