Dog shooter not guilty
FORMER Deeragun police officer Gregory Malcolm Baker has been found not guilty of charges laid against him, after he shot a family dog at a Black River property in July 2020.
In handing down his decision, Magistrate Steven Mosch determined that Mr Baker had a reasonable excuse to have shot the dog and could not find enough evidence to satisfy beyond doubt that his conduct might have caused alarm to another person.
On July 1, 2020, Mr Baker shot a white bull Arab cross dog, owned by James Watson, at a Black River property owned by Darren Humphreys.
James Watson lived at the property next to Mr Humphreys’s land.
Mr Mosch reviewed evidence and accounts from witness cross-examinations from the trial, which had been held on July 15 and August 10 this year.
He said Mr Baker had been in a verbal agreement with the owner of the Black River property, Mr Humphreys, in which he could euthanise dogs that were seen to be worrying or attacking cattle on the property – however no distinction had been made between wild dogs, domestic dogs or dingoes.
Mr Mosch said Mr Baker confirmed his agreement with Mr Humphreys to destroy or take action in protecting the livestock on the property, and that he would also discharge a firearm to notify Mr Humphreys if he sighted a troublesome or trapped dog.
On July 1, 2020, Mr Baker had seen the dog owned by Mr Watson on Mr Humphreys’s property.
Mr Baker said he saw cattle running from the dog, but he was not sure if the dog had attacked or bitten the cattle – and when he approached the dog it bared its teeth at him, and it was then he shot the dog.
Mr Baker said he would call Deeragun Police Station to avoid officers attending unnecessarily after firing a gun, and he also did so on that day.
It was heard that as a result of the charges, Mr Baker was ordered to complete light duties, without a weapon. He later chose to leave his job.
Mr Mosch said steps were taken by police to fully investigate the matter, but said “some might say it was overly investigated”.
“I find he had a reasonable excuse in engaging in conduct using a weapon,” Mr Mosch said.
Defence barrister Darin Honchin submitted an application for costs of more than $11,000 be awarded to Mr Baker. But police prosecutor Darryn Casson rejected the amount put forward by Mr Honchin.
Mr Mosch dismissed the application for costs.
Speaking to the Bulletin outside the courthouse, Mr Baker said the experience had been a “harrowing” one.
He declined to comment further.