Joel, Mickayla Kerim: Frogs Hollow husband and wife charged with bestiality
A Bega Valley woman is set for trial after denying involvement in her husband’s alleged bestiality with their 17-year-old horse, Gemma. Here’s the latest.
The South Coast News
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A south coast woman will go to trial after denying any involvement in her husband’s alleged bestiality of their 17-year-old horse.
Mickayla Kerim, 26, pleaded not guilty to four counts of principal in second degree to serious indictable offence, bestiality, when her case was mentioned in the Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday.
The Frogs Hollow woman was also charged with two counts of produce bestiality material and two counts of disseminate bestiality material, however these were previously withdrawn.
Mrs Kerim’s case was mentioned before Judge Kate Traill, where the 26-year-old’s lawyer Gregory Reinhardt said his client was denying any involvement in her husband, Joel Kerim’s, alleged bestiality of their horse, Gemma.
Police allege Mrs Kerim filmed her husband committing sexual acts on the mare.
Mr Kerim is alleged to have committed the acts on the horse four times last year.
The married couple were later arrested and charged in January 2024, following investigations by NSW southern region detectives.
Mr Kerim was charged with four counts of bestiality, one count of disseminate bestiality material and one count of produce bestiality material.
While he has not entered pleas, it was indicated in the Bega Local Court on Tuesday before Magistrate Doug Dick, that Mr Kerim would be entering pleas on October 29.
“We’re denying any sort of accessory to the alleged acts of [Mr Kerim],” Mr Reinhardt told Judge Traill on Wednesday.
The court heard Mrs Kerim’s case would be moving to a jury trial, with Mr Reinhardt and the prosecutor Corinne Baird revealing it could run for three to five days.
Mr Reinhardt said there would be a “lengthy cross examination” of Mr Kerim.
Mrs Kerim’s trial will run in the Bega District Court and will begin on October 13, 2025.
Earlier:
A magistrate has warned against any further delays in the bestiality case involving Mr and Mrs Kerim.
The case against Mr Kerim, 30, and his wife has had ongoing delays since the couple were charged in January.
Police allege that Mr Kerim sexually assaulted their horse on the property on four occasions last year; once in January, twice in March and once in August.
Mr Kerim was charged with four counts of bestiality, one count of disseminate bestiality material and one count of produce bestiality material.
While his wife has pleaded not guilty to her charges, Mr Kerim is yet to enter pleas.
Police allege they discovered images of bestiality involving the 17-year-old mare in 2023, commencing an investigation into the Frogs Hollow couple’s alleged offending.
State detectives from southern NSW executed a search warrant on the Frogs Hollow property on January 16 following investigations.
Mr Kerim was arrested and police seized a number of electronic devices and photographs.
He was taken to the Bega Police Station, where he was charged.
Mr Kerim’s case was mentioned in the Bega Local Court on Tuesday where his lawyer, Dominique Rideaux, asked Mr Dick for one more adjournment – a request he reluctantly granted.
“This has been adjourned seven times now,” Mr Dick said. “This is the last time.”
Mr Kerim did not appear due to being legally represented, but Mr Dick said he would need to appear at his next court appearance.
Mr Rideaux said the case needed to be adjourned again due to the complex nature of the agreed facts.
“Although it’s regrettable it has been adjourned so many times, these facts are very lengthy,” he said.
Prosecutor Chelsea Tasevski agreed, saying another adjournment was needed.
“This will help us finalise the facts,” she said.
Mr Kerim will return to court on October 29. The duo remain on bail.
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