Man accused of deliberately injuring sheep at Canberra property refused bail
An 18-year-old man accused of breaking into a rural property in Canberra's south and injuring several sheep last month has been refused bail.
Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
Police were called to the property adjacent to the Monaro Highway in Tuggeranong on September 17, after the owner arrived and found multiple injured sheep in a holding pen.
It is alleged several people went to the property the night before and used dogs to round up eight sheep and herd them into the pen.
Police say several of the sheep were deliberately injured with both firearms and edged weapons.
ACT Policing seized a large knife during a search warrant at the Richardson property. (Supplied: ACT Policing)
One sheep died and another had to be euthanased.
The home on the property was also allegedly ransacked.
Police raided a home in Richardson yesterday and arrested Memphis Auld, 18, and seized a number of items including cannabis and a large knife.
A 16-year-old was also arrested but released pending further investigation.
Investigators say a 27-year-old man, who is currently in custody for other matters, is also expected to be charged over the incident.
ACT Policing says it seized cannabis from the Richardson property. (Supplied: ACT Policing)
Firearm used in the incident still missing
Mr Auld faced the ACT Magistrates Court today charged with four counts of joint commission aggravated animal cruelty causing death and one count of joint commission aggravated animal cruelty causing serious injury.
He was also charged with committing aggravated burglary with intent to damage property, possession of a prohibited firearm, trafficking cannabis, and multiple motor vehicle and driving offences.
Mr Auld applied for bail, with the duty lawyer telling the court his partner relied on his Centrelink payments to make ends meet and his family were willing to support him to meet any conditions.
But the prosecutor opposed his release, arguing police held concerns a firearm — believed to have been used in the incident — was yet to be found.
"The offending really speaks for itself,"
the prosecutor said.
"That kind of injury to animals is quite awful, frankly, and it goes towards the safety and welfare of people."
Police say the incident happened near Tuggeranong Pines in Canberra's south. (ABC News: David Sciasci)
The court also heard officers had uncovered images on a mobile phone of a person pointing a firearm at a sheep while wearing clothing police believe match those found at Mr Auld's home.
Magistrate Alexandra Burt refused bail, saying the likelihood of Mr Auld reoffending, endangering the wellbeing of others or interfering with evidence was "so great that his detention in custody is currently justified".
"There is … an outstanding firearm that was used in the commission of these offences," she said.
"There was, in my view, some attempts to conceal and some attempts to evade detection by the group, with the firearm being concealed on the CCTV footage and number plates on vehicles being replaced.
"There is also possibly a risk that there may be some interference or communication about the firearm."
Mr Auld was remanded in custody to return to court later this month.
Police are urging anyone with information to provide details via the Crime Stoppers ACT website, quoting 8502989.
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