Michael Holmes pleads not guilty to animal cruelty charges in Queanbeyan Local Court

A NSW Southern Tablelands man has denied allegations that he dragged a kangaroo by the neck with his vehicle. Here’s the latest from court.

The alleged offence involved a female kangaroo. File picture: Tim Howard

A man accused of dragging a kangaroo by the neck with his vehicle in the NSW Southern Tablelands region has faced court.

Michael Anthony Holmes, 61, appeared at Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday facing charges of recklessly beating and causing prolonged suffering to an animal and committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal.

Holmes appeared in person before Magistrate Roger Clisdell and entered a plea of not guilty to both charges.

Magistrate Clisdell noted that NSW Police would handle the matter rather than RSPCA.

The court also heard the charges were of a kind that could warrant a custodial sentence if proven.

Michael Anthony Holmes (left) outside Queanbeyan Local Court. Picture: Hannah Farrow

Charge sheets tendered to the court state that the alleged offence occurred at 4.30pm on April 13, 2025, and involved a live adult female kangaroo.

In a NSW Police media statement on April 16, police “allege the man tied the kangaroo to the back of his car and dragged it from a property to the road, approximately 400 metres, while the animal was still alive”.

“About 5.15pm on Sunday 13 April 2025, a woman was walking along Millynn Rd, Bywong, approximately 30km north of Queanbeyan, when she found a badly injured kangaroo down an embankment, with a rope tied around its neck,” the statement read.

“The woman contacted an emergency wildlife rescue line, with a local rescue organisation picking up the kangaroo and taking it to Bungendore.”

NSW Police stated “the kangaroo suffered severe lacerations to its rib and hip area and died shortly before police arrived”.

On April 15, Holmes attended North Sydney Police Station where he was issued with a court attendance notice.

A Change.org petition was created after the allegations were made public and has received close to 15,000 signatures.

Holmes’ matter will return to court for a hearing on July 14.

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