Corey Murrell: Trafalgar man escapes jail time over animal cruelty

A Gippsland man who filmed a deer being violently kicked, dragged and stabbed has avoided jail time for his “sickening” acts. WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEOS

A Gippsland man who filmed a deer being violently kicked, dragged and stabbed has escaped jail time because of his failing kidneys.

Corey Murrell pleaded guilty at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court to charges including acts of animal cruelty, importing a firearm suppressor, possessing a silencer without a permit and possessing cartilage ammunition without a licence.

The court heard the Department Environment, Land, Water and Planning officers attended his Trafalgar property on June 22 2020 when they seized his phone.

On it, they found photos of dead deer and videos of animal cruelty.

One video filmed in November 2019 showed Murrell’s co-accused kicking and stabbing a deer at night on the side of the road.

The unknown man aggressively pulled on the deer ears and dragged it around.

Murrell filmed the vile attack, encouraging his co-accused to “f***ing get him”, “kill him” and “wrestle him”.

In another video filmed by Murrell, three puppies bit a white guinea pig on his property in February 2020.

One of the dogs grabbed the guinea pig in its mouth and violently shook it.

In the footage, Murrell can be heard laughing and saying “just get him” and “catch him”.

The guinea pig screamed in distress but Murrell refused to stop the attack.

The court also heard Murrell bought multiple prohibited firearm suppressors from China in late 2019.

In April 2020, police found a homemade firearm silencer and ammunition on his property.

Murrell’s lawyer Michelle Lester said the father-of three had “significant” medical issues including chronic kidney failure.

Ms Lester said without dialysis and treatment for three days, Murrell “would die.”

Magistrate Belinda Wallington said the Murrell’s offending was callous.

“I don’t really feel like there is genuine remorse other than being caught,” she said.

“This is a course of conduct of utter cruelty against defenceless animals and the degree of enjoyment was quite sickening.”

Magistrate Wallington said Murrell would have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment if it wasn’t for his medical condition.

Murrell was fined $5200 after he was found unsuitable for a community corrections order.

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