Animal cruelty investigated

An investigation into allegations of animal cruelty is continuing after the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court fined and convicted a man responsible for videoing the cruel acts.

The Conservation Regulator is continuing its investigation into a man who was filmed stabbing a Sambar Deer in Gippsland in 2019, after the man who took the footage was convicted and fined $4000.

Investigators say a man in the footage could be seen stabbing and beating the deer, causing horrific injuries.

Corey Murrell narrowly escaped jail last month due to his ill-health and instead received a $4000 fine for multiple animal cruelty offences including using guinea pigs as live bait to train his hunting dogs, tormenting a fox cub and illegally hunting hog deer.

Conservation Regulator authorised officers uncovered the offences on Mr

Murrell’s phone during a native wildlife investigation in 2020. The phone was seized by DELWP officers during a warrant at his Trafalgar property last year.

He pleaded guilty to the charges but did not reveal the identity of the man filmed stabbing the Sambar Deer.

Mr Murrell was charged and convicted for four breaches of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, one breach of the Wildlife Act 1975 and one breach of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.

In Victoria it is illegal to wound, mutilate, torture, abuse or beat an animal.

Gippsland senior forest and wildlife officer Glenn Lineham said the Conservation Regulator took all matters of wildlife crime seriously.

“While this case doesn’t directly relate to native wildlife, our investigation uncovered these cruel acts towards deer, guinea pigs and foxes.

“It is never acceptable to abuse an animal and we are committed to bringing offenders to justice,” Mr Lineham said.