Horsham kangaroos shot, beaten with bat

Thomas Robertson, 22, and Camberwell's Andrew Heggie, 20, allegedly filmed themselves beating kangaroos with bats and put the footage on social media. 

The pair appeared in Horsham Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, charged with beating an animal, aggravated cruelty to an animal, hunting protected wildlife and destroying protected wildlife.

Heggie pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to an animal and was fined $1800.

Prosecutor Sharon Webb told the court the men went spotlighting on a property near Horsham on November 27, 2014.

They allegedly shot three eastern grey kangaroos, but the animals did not die from the gunshot wounds.

“It is an offence to hunt protected wildlife and the pair did not have a licence to do so,” Ms Webb said.

She said Robertson then allegedly beat two kangaroos with an aluminium baseball bat and Heggie beat one.

Heggie beat and kicked a small kangaroo, that was lying on the ground, in the head five times, while being filmed on a mobile phone.

Before beating the animal, he said to the camera ‘this is for all you animal lovers’.

The animal did not lose consciousness until the fourth strike.

Robertson allegedly beat a small kangaroo in the head seven times, along with a larger kangaroo.

Heggie uploaded the video to Facebook and a member of the public reported it to authorities.

“In a police interview, Heggie denied shooting the kangaroos and said he chose to beat one because he thought shooting it at close range would be more cruel,” Ms Webb said.

She said Robertson allegedly told police he shot three kangaroos with a semi-automatic shotgun, which was registered to his mother.

Ms Webb argued the act was deliberate. 

She said the fact that the men videoed the attack and put it on Facebook made it more reprehensible.

“The animals were not unconscious or dead until they were hit in the head,” she said.

“The community does not accept cruelty to animals.”

Magistrate Mark Stratmann said the incident was an absolute utter disgrace.

“It should be condemned in the strongest terms,” he said.

Mr Stratmann said he was concerned about how Heggie regarded other life, when he did this to animals.

 “People know now what you’ve done and it’s something very serious," he said.

“This sort of cruelty angers community.

“I don’t know why you would put it on Facebook.”

Mr Stratmann said Heggie’s life so far was unblemished.

“It has just escalated to a terrible position,” he said.

“I accept that you are a remorseful, young person but you should be completely ashamed of yourself.”

Heggie was placed on a 12-month community correction order and fined $1800.

Heggie’s solicitor said Heggie struck the kangaroos a number of times to make sure they were dead.

“He knows the kangaroos shouldn’t have been shot in the first place and accepts the circumstances,” he said.

“He did not have a licence or permit to hunt the kangaroos.

“He understands it was a stupid, senseless act against an animal.

“By posting the footage on Facebook, it shows he didn’t understand the severity of the situation.”

The solicitor argued Heggie had taken steps towards rehabilitation, and was receiving counselling.

“There has been no other incident in the 15 months since this occurred,” he said.

Robertson’s solicitor argued because the animals were not killed from the original gunshot, it would be inappropriate to then shot them at close range.

“The main issue is the manner the beast was disposed of and in this case there was no cruelty,” he said.

“They disposed of the animal in a quick fashion and the fact that there was more than one blow is neither here nor there.

“Should they have stopped? No. It was a reasonable act given the circumstances. They did everything according to the book.”

Robertson will face court again on June 1