Farmer says men who 'deliberately injured' his sheep pointed gun at him
A farmer whose south Canberra home was ransacked in a break-and-enter last month has alleged the offenders pointed a gun at him as they fled the property.
Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
According to a statement of facts, police said the offenders also used a rifle to kill four sheep and left two others with broken bones at the property near the Monaro Highway in Tuggeranong.
Memphis Auld, 18, has been charged with four counts of joint commission aggravated animal cruelty causing death, aggravated burglary with intent to damage property and other firearm and driving offences.
Investigators say a 27-year-old man currently in custody for other matters is also expected to be charged over the incident.
An 18-year-old man has been charged over the incident, and investigators also expect to charge a 27-year-old man. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
Court documents said the offenders used an angle grinder to cut the padlock on the front gate and enter the property sometime between the afternoon of September 16 and 8am on September 17.
Police said the offenders mustered the sheep into a holding yard and then let off multiple rounds from a .22 calibre rifle, killing one sheep and injuring others.
The next day, a sheep handler found one sheep was dead, one was covered in blood, and another was missing an eye.
A vet later assessed the sheep, and three had to be euthanased; another had a broken neck, and another had a broken jaw.
After discovering the injured sheep, the sheep handler called police and officers seized ammunition casings, a long machete and a broken padlock from the scene.
The court heard several sheep at the Canberra property were deliberately injured with both firearms and "edged weapons". (ABC News: David Sciasci)
Police said they later discovered CCTV footage of the offenders returning home, which they alleged showed one of them concealing a weapon in his jumper, which they believe was the rifle.
The farmer who owns the site returned to the property at about 11pm on the day of the incident.
He said a silver sedan was at the front gate and, as he arrived, it accelerated and drove away from the entrance.
The farmer followed the sedan, during which he said the passenger leaned out of the window and pointed a gun at him.
He continued to follow the car but lost it in the suburb of Chisolm.
ACT Policing seized cannabis from Memphis Auld's Richardson home on October 8. (Supplied: ACT Policing)
Earlier this month, police arrested Mr Auld and carried out a search warrant on his home in Richardson.
They seized mobile phones and said they found photos showing the incident at the farm.
Court documents said one of the images showed a male holding a gun and aiming it towards several sheep in the holding yard.
Another picture allegedly showed sheep in the holding yard, and one appeared to have blood on its face.
Police also seized cannabis, and Mr Auld was charged with trafficking cannabis.
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