Joel Kerim pleads guilty to bestiality charges in Bega Local Court
A husband has admitted to sexually assaulting a pet horse multiple times on his NSW south coast farm, weeks after his wife denied filming the acts.
The South Coast News
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A NSW south coast man has admitted to sexually assaulting his 17-year-old horse multiple times, while also producing bestiality material on his farm over an eight-month period.
Joel Kerim, 30, pleaded guilty in Bega Local Court on Tuesday to four counts of bestiality, one count of producing bestiality material and one count of disseminating bestiality material.
The guilty pleas follow his wife and co-accused, Mickayla Kerim, denying any involvement in the bestiality incident after police alleged she filmed the acts
Ms Kerim, 26, pleaded not guilty to four counts of bestiality, charged on the basis she did not commit the offence but was present and encouraged or assisted in its commission, in the Downing Centre District Court on October 16.
The court previously heard how Mr Kerim sexually assaulted his 17-year-old mare, Gemma, on their farm on four occasions last year: once in January, twice in March and once in August.
Police stated images of the bestiality involving the horse were uncovered in 2023, prompting an investigation into Mr Kerim.
Detectives from southern NSW searched the Bega Valley farm on January 16 this year and seized a number of electronic devices and photographs, before Mr Kerim was arrested and charged.
He was later granted bail the same day.
Mr Dick on Tuesday ordered a sentencing assessment report, which was not opposed by Mr Kerim’s lawyer, Dominique Rideaux, or prosecutor Alana McKinnon.
Mr Kerim is set to return to court for sentencing on March 3, 2025.
Meanwhile, Ms Kerim will go to trial in the Bega District Court.
Her trial is expected to begin on October 13, 2025, and is set to run for five days.
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