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The man charged with bestiality is charged with 162 counts of animal abuse, as cops also allegedly found him in possession of child pornography.
- Man from suburban Darwin faces 223 charges
- Charges include animal abuse and possession of child pornography
- He will face the NT Supreme Court on March 9.
A man charged with 162 counts of animal abuse, including bestiality, is also charged with possession of child pornography.
The 51-year-old man from the outskirts of Darwin, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, also faces a number of other offenses but has yet to formally plead guilty.
Chief Justice Elizabeth Morris committed the man to stand trial in the Northern Territory High Court in front of a jury on 74 of his total 223 charges on March 9.
A 51-year-old man from the outskirts of Darwin accused of bestiality has been charged with 162 counts of animal cruelty and will face the NT Supreme Court (pictured) in March.
Of the 74 charges he faces, 11 involve sexual intercourse with an animal, 28 counts of using a transportation service to harass, and two counts of using a transportation service and possession of child abuse material.
The remaining 149 charges will be heard in Darwin Local Court, where he will appear on May 9.
The remaining charges include numerous other crimes of animal cruelty and breach of duty of care for animals, along with four counts of having sex with an animal.
All details of the case, including the names of the man or witnesses, have been redacted after he first appeared in court last April.
The court was told that the alleged facts were so perverted as to “offend public decency”.
The man has been charged with child abuse, stalking, breach of duty of care for animals and possession of child abuse material. He will be jailed until his two court dates this year.
Ms Morris confirmed the redactions against the man’s identity and any details relating to any of his charges, but allowed the basic facts to be reported.
Ms Morris supported this by saying that her ruling was “to protect the public” rather than “to protect the rights of the accused, because the allegations were abhorrent.”
NT law states that anyone found guilty of having sex with an animal court faces up to three years in jail.
The man will remain in pretrial detention until his next court hearings in March and May.