Accused plead not guilty to koala deaths charges in Portland Magistrates’ Court

Three parties who face a combined 250 animal cruelty charges relating to a mass killing of koalas in southwest Victoria will contest the accusations.

Three parties who face a combined 250 charges relating to a mass killing of koalas in southwest Victoria will contest the accusations.

On Tuesday July 26 Bryant’s Forestry and Earth Moving, James Troeth and DR and KR Hutchinson Rural Contractors’s lawyers appeared in the Portland Magistrates’ Court via audiovisual link where all pleaded not guilty.

In December last year the Conservation Regulator laid more than 250 animal cruelty charges against the owner of a Cape Bridgewater property and two companies.

At the time the Conservation Regulator said dozens of dead koalas were found in February 2020 in a partially cleared former timber plantation at Cape Bridgewater, near Portland.

21 koalas were found dead on the site and a further 49 koalas were euthanised as a result of injuries.

The owner of the former plantation, James Troeth was charged with 126 animal cruelty charges as was southwest Victorian business Bryant’s Forestry and Earth Moving.

DR and KR Hutchinson Rural Contractors were also charged with one cruelty offence for disturbing the koala population.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning prosecuting officer Susanna Locke told Magistrate Nunzio La Rosa it was anticipated DR and KR Hutchinson Rural Contractors, Bryant’s Forestry and Earth Moving and James Troeth would contest their respective charges.

The case will progress to a contest mention hearing, which has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 29, where details of the charges and evidence will be discussed.

In a contest mention case, charges may be withdrawn, issues narrowed or the accused may agree to plead guilty.

If a contest mention case cannot be resolved they will be listed for a contested hearing.

Earlier this year former Horsham mayor and Drung South farmer Bernard Gross pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges after 12 sheep died on his farm.