Ashley O’Keefe fronts Wodonga Magistrates’ Court over alleged wildlife attacks

Videos and photos showing a man allegedly encouraging his dogs to torture, butcher and maim native wildlife while his kids watched have been labelled “very, very confronting” by a magistrate.

Ashley O'Keefe fronted the Wodonga Magistrates' Court on animal cruelty charges.

“Very, very confronting” videos and photos of a man encouraging his dogs to torture and kill native wildlife on a property in Victoria’s high country have been shown in a court.

Ashley O’Keefe, 40 from Myrtleford, fronted Wodonga Magistrates Court accused of unlawful acts of aggravated cruelty against animals, allowing dogs to fight with animals and the possession of protected wildlife.

The court heard Mr O’Keefe’s alleged offending occurred from December 2020 to June 2023.

A report from the RSPCA highlighted the alleged animal cruelty acts in 14 videos and 10 photographs, all of which were shown to the court.

The videos, shown in court by prosecutor Danielle Chiaverini, depict dogs attacking wildlife.

The Myrtleford dad, who is accused of committing 23 offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, appeared in court in person, supported by his family members.

In one video, a man can be heard encouraging the dogs to attack a kangaroo.

In another, the man remarks “we are smashing roos with dad” while driving.

Ashley O'Keefe allegedly let his dogs attack wombats, eastern grey kangaroos and other native wildlife.

Magistrate Ian Watkins said the videos were “very, very confronting images”, and suggested Mr O’Keefe needed to figure whether he was entering “a plea or not”.

Defence lawyer Damien McNally said the 40-year-old had “next to no prior (criminal) history”.

He said ancillary orders needed to be sorted before his client would consider entering a guilty plea.

Mr Watkins adjourned the matter to April 4, saying the matter needed more time in court due to the seriousness of the alleged offending.

He warned he did not think it was likely a fine would suffice as punishment, should Mr O’Keefe plead or be found guilty.