Court hears NSW man threw a chicken named Betty White to an alligator, claiming it was to feed the hungry animal | News, People

A man who tossed a chicken often called Betty White to its loss of life in an alligator pen had merely needed to feed the reptile, his lawyer has stated.

Peter Smith, 58, of Hunterview in regional New South Wales, pleaded responsible on Tuesday in Raymond Terrace native court docket to one depend of aggravated animal cruelty.

Defence lawyer Bryan Wrench described the case as a “very unusual matter”.

He stated Smith had merely fed a chicken to a hungry alligator in a wildlife park.

He famous the previous adage “never smile at a crocodile”, however recommended the alligator would have loved consuming the chicken.

The defence lawyer stated Smith had no felony report, was a grandfather, had grown up in the nation and “just wanted to feed an alligator”.

Magistrate Kirralee Perry stated she was undecided making gentle of the state of affairs was applicable.

“These are serious allegations,” Perry informed Wrench.

When informed the most penalty for aggravated animal cruelty in NSW was two years’ imprisonment and a superb of $24,084, Perry stated: “Nothing to make fun of then.”

Wrench stated he was not making enjoyable of the case, however that 750m chickens had been killed every year.

Smith’s case was adjourned to 20 November for sentence.

He refused to remark exterior court docket.

Court paperwork revealed police claimed Smith dedicated an act of aggravated cruelty on “a silkie bantam chook” between 2.57pm and three.10pm on 2 January at the Oakvale Farm and Fauna World at Salt Ash.

Police had attended the wildlife park after stories the chicken had been snatched from an enclosure and thrown into the alligator pen in entrance of shocked households.

In a assertion launched after the silkie hen was killed, Kent Sansom, the proprietor of Oakvale Farm, stated administration and workers had been deeply saddened by Betty White’s destiny.

“This is the first time in our 43 years that we have had a member of the public [allegedly] engage in such cruelty in what is an animal sanctuary,” Sansom stated.

“Betty White was hand-raised at the park and had played a crucial role in our endangered species breeding program for the bush stone curlew and other species by providing surrogacy to the chicks.

“Her quiet nature means she would not hesitate to approach a customer for some animal pellets, making her an easy target for an [alleged] ruthless perpetrator.”