Youth to fight seagull cruelty allegations alongside friend

A Hobart man will fight serious animal cruelty charges in court after he was allegedly involved in the torture and filming of a seagull at a popular fishing spot.

Hobart youth Ethan William Seabourne will fight allegations of animal cruelty next month following claims he was involved in the torture of a seagull at the Midway Point causeway.

A GAGEBROOK man will return to court next month to contest allegations he took part in the torture of a seagull at a popular fishing spot.

Ethan William Seabourne, 20, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday after previously denying two counts of aggravated cruelty against animals likely to result in death, deformity or serious disablement, and one count of cruelty to animals.

Magistrate Chris Webster adjourned Mr Seabourne’s matter, so he could appear alongside his co-accused, Connor Joseph Churchill, 21, during a hearing on March 13.

In December last year, Mr Churchill pleaded guilty to one aggravated cruelty charge, and not guilty to a second.

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Prosecutors at that stage told the court that in April 2018, Mr Churchill and three friends were fishing off the Midway Point causeway when Mr Churchill deliberately baited his line and placed it on the road, before a seagull subsequently swallowed the hook and was tangled in fishing line.

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