Andrew Joseph Hart, 20, and Daniel Bellden, 22, appeared unrepresented in Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday, August 30. Both were charged with offensive behaviour.

The dead animal was found on Sydney Road outside Goulburn and initially tied to the back of a car before it was dragged through town, police facts stated.  It was left at the intersection of Auburn and Montague Streets just before midnight on June 26, where police found it. 

Hart and Bellden are two of four people charged in relation to the incident. The others, a male and female aged 17, were processed under the provisions of the Youth Offenders Act.

In court today, Hart and Bellden appeared together and represented themselves. 

Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman asked them if they thought it would have been alarming to onlookers who might have seen it.

Bellden answered: “Yes. I have had death threats over it. It has outraged the community.”

Both men said it was not their idea to post pictures of the animal on social media, rather this is what outraged onlookers had done.

Mr Bellden told the court about one of the threats he had received.

“A bloke came to my door with a piece of rope in his hand and told me he wanted to drag me behind the back of his car,” Bellden said. 

Magistrate Huntsman said she could only sentence the pair on the facts before her.

“The police facts say you drove out and found a dead kangaroo and you tied it behind your car,” Ms Huntsman said. 

“The police accept that you did not harm the animal but you can see by the outrage this has caused in the community how upsetting it has been for people. If people thought the animal was not dead they would have thought this was a terrible act of cruelty.” 

Mr Bellden said that he did not want to come before the court again. 

“I accept I have been a young idiot. I am past that now,” he said. 

Ms Huntsman ordered that Bellden perform 100 hours of community service.

“I want you to think about your actions as you perform each hour of that community service,” she said.

Magistrate Huntsman said Mr Hart did not have a prior record and was therefore entitled to a more lenient sentence.

She placed him on a section-nine good behaviour bond for 12 months to be supervised by the Department of Community Corrections. 

Goulburn Post