Lilydale mum Joanna Kathlyn Kinman pleads guilty to offensive conduct involving human remains

A former animal shelter worker has owned up to her attempt at selling human remains on the black market, after they were coughed up by a dog surrendered following its owner’s death.

Joanna Kinman will plead guilty to a single charge of offensive conduct involving human remains when her case returns to court in March.

A former animal shelter worker has owned up to her attempt at selling human remains on the black market after they were coughed up by a dog surrendered following its owner’s death.

Lilydale mum Joanna Kathlyn Kinman will plead guilty to a single charge of offensive conduct involving human remains when her case returns to court on March 17.

Her lawyer Rainer Martini appeared before the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Monday to indicate her guilty plea and that a forensic psychologist was being sought to provide insight into her actions.

“The court may be interested in looking at the avenue with regard to why my client thought this was appropriate behaviour,” Mr Martini said.

Police allege Ms Kinman was volunteering at a shelter in the Yarra Ranges when a dog vomited up a toe and other remains last February.

Kinman was charged with trying to sell a human toe coughed up by a dog at an animal shelter where she worked on the black market.

She is accused of putting the body parts into a jar with the intention of selling them on the black market.

The dog was surrendered to the shelter after the death of his owner, whose name is suppressed.

The man died of natural causes before his foot was chewed up by his pet, it’s understood.

Ms Kinman was arrested in February following a tip off to local detectives.

She was released without charge but remained under close police scrutiny.

The woman was charged with offensive conduct involving human remains in August following a six-month criminal investigation.

The full details of her crime will be publicly aired for the first time in March.

Medical reports from Ms Kinman’s counsellor and doctor will be submitted to the court for consideration.

The ex-animal refuge worker faces up to two years’ imprisonment for her actions.

The court heard the prosecution were “not keen” on the defence’s proposal for a diversion, which would enable Ms Kinman to avoid a criminal conviction.

“It’s possibly unlikely that they would agree to it given the informant is not too keen on the idea, apparently,” Mr Martini said.

The shelter – which cannot be identified for legal reasons – confirmed Ms Kinman is no longer associated with them.

Originally published as Lilydale mum Joanna Kathlyn Kinman pleads guilty to offensive conduct involving human remains