Top barrister leaves pony death case

A PROMINENT Melbourne silk will no longer act pro-bono for an elite pony owner suing TT-Line for negligence after his animals were discovered dead following a Bass Strait voyage.

High-profile barrister Chris Winneke, QC, is tied up in a royal commission investigating the saga of gangland barrister-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo, also known as “Lawyer X”, so will no longer act for former World Cup polo player Andrew Williams.

Meanwhile, a November trial date in the Supreme Court of Victoria for the $739,000 civil action has been vacated, with a judge deeming the pony owners, TT-Line and logistics company Qube Holdings need to undergo mediation first.

If mediation is not successful by July 2020, a 10-day trial will start from August 31.

According to court documents obtained by the Mercury, Mr Williams — who owned seven of the ponies discovered dead in January 2018 — secured Mr Winneke’s representation on a “no-win nofee” basis because he was unable to afford the expected $300,000 legal bill.

Mr Williams will retain Melbourne barrister Michael Seelig and solicitors Ryan Legal on a pro-bono basis.

Mr Williams, his company Willo Polo and his employer Twynam Agricultural Group, which owned a further six ponies found dead, are suing the Spirit of Tasmania operators and Qube for the loss of the horses, totalling $639,000, plus profit loss of $100,000.

But TT-Line and Qube claim Mr Williams failed to ensure the horses were in suitable vehicles and appropriately stalled. Mr Williams says he first realised the animals were dead when he opened the float he was driving at a property in Yarra Glen, Victoria, and claims his business has since been “crippled”.

According to pathology findings, court documents claim, the horses likely died due to lack of air ventilation.

Last week, Mr Williams and fellow horse truck driver Thomas Martin pleaded not guilty to criminal charges relating to the pony deaths in the Devonport Magistrates Court.

The pair, alongside TTLine, were charged in June this year by Biosecurity Tasmania.

TT-Line, which has been charged with the same offences as Mr Williams, has not yet entered a plea and will appear in court at a later date.