A central west NSW greyhound coach accused of giving a canine alcohol and betting on one other canine in a Bathurst race has had all costs towards him dropped.
Molong-based Augustus Leslie Weekes had costs towards him dismissed on the Orange Courthouse as we speak by Justice of the Peace David Day, who discovered there was “affordable doubt” that he gave the canine alcohol.
The court docket heard cellphone intercepts during which Mr Weekes and his son Toby mentioned plans to present a canine alcohol to gradual it down in a race at Bathurst in June 2021.
Underneath cross-examination, Mr Weekes later advised the court docket he did focus on giving the canine alcohol however by no means went by with the plan as a result of he “chickened out”.
The canine in query was Winlock Lloyd, which was the favorite within the race however completed second to final after colliding with one other canine.
When requested about one other cellphone recording after the race during which he advised his son he gave the canine a “liqueur”, Mr Weekes advised the court docket that was the title he used for a standard nutrient combine given to racing canine.
In handing down his judgement, Justice of the Peace Day stated Mr Weekes was an “unsophisticated and unreliable” witness and that a few of his proof was “wholly unconvincing”.
The Justice of the Peace stated the burden of proof was with the prosecution to determine guilt past affordable doubt.
He stated in his evaluation of the proof there was nonetheless affordable doubt that Mr Weekes gave the canine alcohol.
Justice of the Peace Day stated one of many causes he made the conclusion was as a result of the stewards on race day inspected the canine and deemed it capable of race.
“The inference to attract, on stability, was that Winlock Lloyd [the dog] was not noticeably affected,” he stated.
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