A man has been jailed for illegal hunting, animal torture and firearms offences after he filmed an injured kangaroo being beaten to death with a stick as it struggled to get away.
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Aaron Schuberth, 27, of Anson Street, was also jailed for two police pursuits, including a 13-minute pursuit, in which he drove 100km/h through residential streets and 140km/h on straights out of town until he was forced to stop when police saw smoke coming from the bonnet.
He jumped out of a car and escaped but got tangled in a barbed-wire fence and left his shoe and wallet behind. His DNA was also found on the key, which was still in the ignition.
Schuberth was arrested at a petrol station on September 5, 2020, and police seized his mobile phone and found videos of the illegal hunting trip in the Mullion Range State Forest as well as photos of him posing with a sawn-off rifle. Another photo showed him posing with a rifle in front of a dead kangaroo.
The videos were played in Orange Local Court including one that showed men laughing at the torture of an injured kangaroo that had been shot.
The footage showed the kangaroo in pain trying to drag itself away and being struck in the head before succumbing to its injuries.
Schuberth was subject to a firearms prohibition order at the time of the offences and pleaded guilty to two counts of acquiring a firearm, hunting in a forestry area, torturing or causing prolonged suffering to an animal, possessing ammunition and the two police pursuits.
Shortened firearms have only one purpose, it's to shoot, injure and kill other human people.
- Magistrate David Day
Magistrate David Day said Schuberth was "posing like a gangster" in the photographs.
Solicitor Lucy Maranga said Schuberth was born into a drug culture and confirmed that he was under the influence during most of his offending. She said there was also a likelihood of him becoming institutionalised.
However, Mr Day said Schuberth should not escape an appropriate sentence, "simply because he's a jail bird."
"It's not a given that everyone who grows up in poverty, in households where drugs are used, turns out to be a criminal, most don't," Mr Day said.
"Firearms offences are the most serious, shortened firearms have only one purpose, it's to shoot, injure and kill other human people." He said they are "hopelessly inaccurate" and of no use for "vermin control".
Mr Day said the wounded kangaroo appeared to have been shot in the spine and questioned why they did not put it out of its misery with the gun.
Mr Day sentenced Schuberth to two years and two months' jail back-dated to September 6 with a 13-month non-parole period until October 5. He also disqualified Schuberth's driver's licence for six months for driving while disqualified during the pursuits.
The co-offender who is alleged to have been the man who was filmed shooting kangaroos is yet to have his matter finalised in court.
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