Protester charged with allegedly punching horse to plead not guilty

One of the men accused of punching a horse during Sydney’s anti-lockdown rallies is set to fight animal cruelty allegations in court.

A man charged with punching a horse during Sydney’s heated anti-lockdown protests is set to fight the allegations in court.

Remon Korkise, 36, is set to plead not guilty to charges after being arrested during the massive rally attended by thousands of protesters in the CBD last month, a court has been told.

He was charged with assaulting an officer, animal cruelty and breaching health orders, with the court previously being told that he had lost work as a photographer due to the pandemic and attended the protests out of “frustration”.

He was one of two men charged with allegedly punching a police horse during heated clashes at the protests.

Remon Korkise has denied allegations that he punched a horse during an anti-lockdown rally last month. Picture: Instagram.

During a previous appearance, Mr Korkise’s lawyer played video to the court which purported to prove that he did not harm any animal.

He was set to appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.

He did not appear but sent a letter from his lawyer read out to the court that said he would plead not guilty to all charges.

Mr Korkise remains on strict bail, including that he not leave his house without his parents ahead of his next court appearance next month.

Meanwhile, prominent anti-lockdown protester Joseph Mekhael has been hit with further charges following last month’s rally.

Mr Mekhael was previously charged with breaching his bail conditions by attending the July 24 protests.

In February, he was charged with breaching public health orders after he allegedly organised two unauthorised protests through Parramatta Westfield.

Joseph Mekhael alongside Pete Evans at an anti-vaccinations protest in Hyde Park in February. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jenny Evans.

He was granted bail but is alleged to have breached those bail conditions by attending the July rally.

The former DJ who went by the name “DJ Smokin’ Joe Mekhael” rose to prominence as a conspiracy theorist and has previously worn a “The Save The World Army” shirt to court.

Joseph Mekhael was charged after allegedly protesting against the lockdown in Sydney’s CBD last month. Source: Ian Paterson

He was set to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday after being hit with two fresh counts of not complying with a noticed direction.

He did not appear before registrar Tim Henderson and his matter was adjourned for a week so he could seek further legal advice.