Latest news with #bestiality
News.com.au
2 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland called to implement national bestiality material laws
New Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has been called to address 'pathetic' gaps in bestiality laws, where only three states currently outlaw materials showing acts of the animal torture. While the act of bestiality is illegal, only NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania have banned the possession, distribution and production of materials depicting bestiality. NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said the 'pathetic' gaps in legislation mean authorities don't have the means to convict criminals for committing the horrific crimes. Ms Hurst, who championed stronger laws in NSW, has called for the Commonwealth Criminal Code to introduce new offences for using a carriage service to possess, produce or share animal sexual abuse materials within or outside Australia. She's also calling for a federal taskforce to target offenders perpetrating these crimes. 'Many dangerous criminals are escaping conviction because of gaps in our laws. We must make sure our laws protect children and animals,' she told NewsWire. 'While further legislative changes are looking very hopeful in NSW, there is still the enormous issue that across the country, laws are still lacking. 'Given the gravity of the crimes, federal legislation in this space is sorely needed and should be urgently prioritised by the new federal Attorney-General.' Ms Hurst used the example of Northern Territory man Adam Britton who was slapped with a 10 year and five month jail sentence after he pleaded guilt to 60 charges of bestiality, animal cruelty and possessing child abuse material in August 2024. However authorities were unable to charge or convict him of the creation and sharing of bestiality materials due to the lack of such laws in NT legislation. 'There is no law in the NT to prohibit the distribution of such materials so while he was convicted of bestiality, he escaped charges for distribution,' he said. RSPCA NSW general counsel Kathryn Jurd, who has spent eight years running and prosecuting cases for the RSPCA, said differences in state legislation should not act as a barrier to law enforcement charging people with offences which reflect the full extent of their actions. 'When law enforcement discover these heinous crimes, they need to be in a position to charge in a way that reflects exactly what the person has done, what the evidence is capable of proving they have done,' she said. Speaking to the seriousness of cases involving animal sexual abuse material, she said features which 'regularly reoccur' in bestiality cases included the presence of children in the footage, and perpetrators being found in possession of child sexual abuse material. 'People who create animal sexual abuse material don't abide by state lines and the point of the creation of this type of material is often for it to be disseminated globally,' she said. 'Most people would support uniformity, particularly on a topic where there's so much consensus for really strong criminal law coverage across Australia.' While Ms Rowland declined to comment on Ms Hurst's demands, stating that they were a state issue, new shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser gave in-principle support to strengthened laws. 'Acts of bestiality are completely abhorrent,' he said.
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Convicted child molester, dangerous offender Shayne Lund denied parole
Warning: Content in this article may be upsetting or triggering to some readers. The Midland, Ont. man convicted of sex crimes, which included the abuse of animals to harm children, will remain in prison. Convicted child molester Shayne Lund, 33, appeared from a Quebec prison by video for his parole board hearing Thursday. The board determined Lund, who is serving an indeterminate sentence as a dangerous offender, is not ready to be released from custody. With no stated plan for release, Lund has been in prison for 10 years after pleading guilty to 35 counts involving 14 victims, including children as young as two years of age whom he sexually violated, and abusing animals in some cases to sexually assault the children. Along with bestiality charges, Lund was convicted of sexual assault, making child pornography and voyeurism. Many of Lund's crimes involved conspiring with girlfriends Avery Taylor and Kathryn Thompson. Both women were convicted and sentenced for their crimes. Lund, Thompson, Taylor Kathryn Thompson (L), Shayne Lund (C), and Avery Taylor (R) (Supplied) When asked during his parole board hearing why a psychological follow-up had fallen apart, Lund revealed he was not in the right mindset to complete an assessment following news his wife, a Quebec woman he had met through his stepbrother, left him about a year ago. He called the breakup his 'hardest loss.' Lund told the board he only moved from an Ontario prison to one in Quebec in October 2023 to be closer to his wife. Lund said the divorce has not been finalized. 'She never gave me an explanation,' he told the parole board. Lund, according to court documents, has been diagnosed as a narcissistic, anti-social pedophile; described as manipulative and self-focused with an explosive temper. Shayne Lund Convicted pedophile Shayne Lund, shown in this photo along side his wife who he married in December, appeared before the parole board Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Source/Facebook) The board referred to his inability to move forward with a psychological assessment as the 'missing piece of the puzzle' to help Lund and the board understand his criminality and major sexual deviancies. 'You still do not understand why you got involved in that,' Lund was told during the hearing. The board heard Lund plans to take a welding course in prison and participate in the Houses of Healing restorative justice program. He said his goal is to be transferred to a minimum-security prison. The board asked Lund to continue working on himself to better manage his emotions including empathy. He was advised he also needs to better understand the consequences of his actions. The board reiterated its paramount consideration is the protection of society, adding Lund remains a high risk to public safety. Related Articles
CTV News
20-05-2025
- CTV News
2 people facing charges following bestiality investigation in Kingston, Ont.
Two people are facing charges in connection with alleged acts of bestiality and the endangerment of a dog in Kingston, Ont. Kingston Police said over the past month, investigators with the Special Services Unit examined graphic images and videos that were discovered on cellphones seized during a previous drug-related investigation. 'The material depicted various sexual acts involving the co-accused's dog, ultimately leading to the identification of the two suspects,' police said in a statement Tuesday morning. A 32-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman have been jointly charged with bestiality and injuring an animal. Police say the man was already facing charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and proceeds of crime. The dog has been seized and is now in the care of Animal Welfare Services. 'Kingston Police would like to extend sincere appreciation to provincial inspectors from the Animal Welfare services for their invaluable assistance throughout this investigation,' police said. Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Kingston Humane Society at 613-546-1291.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Employer reveals his shock after finding out about his worker's bestiality and child abuse charges
An Albury tech worker has been charged with the possession of child abuse and bestiality material after police swooped on his home this morning. NSW Police executed a search warrant at Lavington home at 6.20am on Friday and arrested Vikneskumar Thangaraj, 33. The search came after State Crime Command's Child Internet Exploitation Unit (CIEU) passed on information to officers attached to Murray River Police District, who then made further inquiries. An electronic device was seized during the search and has been taken for further examination, police said. Thangaraj was taken to Albury Police Station where he was charged with possess child abuse material, person possesses bestiality material, and use carriage etc to access child abuse material. He was refused bail to appear in Albury Local Court later on Friday. Thangararaj worked in IT for Spider Networking, a business in nearby Wangaratta. His boss confirmed on Friday he had worked there on a casual basis as a 'techie'. The man told Daily Mail Australia it was an 'absolute shocker' to receive the news as he had just processed Thangaraj's wages. 'I send him (Thangaraj) to work at different locations and anyone with a criminal history cannot do that work,' he said.
