A person accused of throwing a hen often known as Betty White right into a crocodile enclosure in entrance of shocked households at a preferred NSW wildlife park has indicated he’ll plead not responsible to animal cruelty.
The case in opposition to Peter William Smith, 57, of Singleton, was talked about briefly in Raymond Terrace Native Courtroom on Monday.
Senior protection lawyer Brian Wrench mentioned Smith, who was not in courtroom, plans to plead not responsible to a cost of aggravated animal cruelty.
“That is an allegation about an alligator consuming a hen,” Wrench informed Choose Justin Seaside.
The protection lawyer mentioned the alleged act described appeared like one thing out of a David Attenborough documentary.
Mr Beech ordered police to arrange a abstract of proof in opposition to Smith by March 4 and adjourned the case to March 18.
Courtroom paperwork revealed police alleged Smith dedicated an act of aggravated cruelty to the ‘Silky Bantam’ between 2.57pm and three.10pm on January 2 at Oakville Farm and Animal World in Salt Ash.
Police attended the wildlife park after experiences that the beloved hen often known as Betty White had been kidnapped from a barn and thrown into the alligator enclosure.
The distinctive bond of a little-known Australian creature
In a press release issued after the silky hen’s killing, Oakville Farm proprietor Kent Sansom mentioned administration and workers had been deeply saddened by Betty White’s destiny.
“That is the primary time in 43 years that now we have seen a member of the general public (allegedly) interact in such cruelty at what’s an animal sanctuary,” Sansom mentioned.
“Betty White was hand-reared on the park and has performed an important position in our breeding program for threatened species reminiscent of stone curlews and different species by offering surrogacy for chicks.
He added: “Her calm nature means she wouldn’t hesitate to strategy a buyer to acquire some animal pellets, making her a straightforward goal for the (alleged) ruthless perpetrator.”
Mr Wrench declined to remark outdoors courtroom on Monday.