By Bruce MacKenzie and police reporter Jessica Kidd
Two men accused of bestiality and other acts of animal cruelty on the New South Wales north coast will spend Christmas in jail.
Police described the incident that allegedly occurred on a farm in Nimbin as “despicable” and said they had “never seen anything like this”.
Staff at a Nimbin permaculture farm found 10 dead chickens with broken necks and other bones, and a 12-year-old pet pig with serious external and internal injuries.
Two men, aged 20 and 22, were arrested near Ballina yesterday over the incident and faced Lismore Local Court today, charged with bestiality, torture and beating and causing the death of an animal.
It was revealed they had breached existing parole conditions. No pleas were entered and bail was refused.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this’
Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Lindsay described the allegations as “shocking”.
“Thankfully I’ve never seen anything like this, the police involved are quite shocked by what is alleged and now we plan to send these matters before the court,” he said.
The incident allegedly occurred last week.
“These are very serious charges. People are looking at very large fines and possibly time in jail,” Mr Lindsay said.
Defence solicitor Steve Bolt asked that the names of the accused men be suppressed due to the nature of the charges.
“In custody they face the risk of physical harm if it became known they were charged with these offences,” he said.
Magistrate Paul McMahon refused to grant the application, but the ABC has decided not to name them.
The matter was adjourned until next month.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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