WARREN Moses, 22, who allegedly posted photographs of mutilated sheep on Facebook, sat handcuffed in the dock at Orange Local Court yesterday, charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty, stock theft and trespassing.
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Police allege Moses and co-offenders entered private property on Long Point Road last Friday night and let two pig dogs loose to savage sheep, which were also stabbed.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Andy Bobin tendered photographs to the court of several mutilated dead sheep examined by police near Long Point Road on Tuesday, as well as photographs they claim are Moses and another man showing dead sheep next to a pig dog.
Sergeant Bobin said expert witnesses, including a veterinary surgeon, would be used to verify the animals died as a result of being mauled by a dog and stabbed.
He said other sheep bearing similar injuries had been found on the property by owner Colin Young.
Two animals bearing similar injuries had to be destroyed by the owner, while a third died of injuries including a stab wound a couple of days later.
In applying for bail for his client, Moses’ solicitor Mason Manwaring said he did not think the police case against Moses was strong and the photograph was a result of his client finding the carcasses on the side of the road.
“While it was dumb and horrific to take that photograph there is nothing to link [the dead sheep] to my client,” Mr Manwaring said.
“And you would expect to see some evidence of blood on the dog.
Mr Manwaring said he would dispute whether the area police claim his client trespassed was public or private land.
He said the status of the land was a pertinent point the police did not include in their facts surrounding the case.
Sergeant Bobin argued for bail to be denied, saying the accused had breached his previous bail conditions while on a good behaviour order for serious traffic offences.
That case will be heard in Orange Local Court in June.
Mr Manwaring said Moses’ breach of bail was not significant as it related to a change of address.
He said Moses was living with his father in Spring Hill and had forgotten to notify police.
Mr Bobin said the detective investigating the disappearance of the stock had identified the dead ram, pictured with two men on the front page of yesterday’s Central Western Daily and on Facebook, as belonging to Mr Young through the use of ear tags as part of the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS).
Police allege the sheep were savaged between 9pm on May 10 and 6.30am on May 11.
In facts tendered to the court, police say Moses refused to be interviewed, other than to say his dogs would not attack sheep and had been hunting at Macquarie Woods, not in the Long Point Road area at Mullion Creek.
Mr Bobin said as the stock theft charges carried a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail they had been referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions.
Several family members, including Moses’ father, were in court yesterday to support the accused, who will return to court today.
