A grandfather who threw a live chicken to alligators in front of shocked onlookers, including children, at a wildlife park has expressed his remorse as he awaits sentencing.
Peter William Smith, 57, picked up a silky bantam chicken named Betty White from its enclosure at Oakvale Wildlife Park in Salt Ash, in NSW Hunter region on January 2.
Smith, from Singleton, then tossed Betty White into a nearby alligator enclosure where the live animal was mauled to death by the reptiles.
He was charged with committing an act of aggravated animal cruelty – which carries a two year maximum jail term.
In February, Smith pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty on Tuesday when he appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court, ABC News reported.
Defence lawyer Bryan Wrench tried to dismiss the gravity of his client’s actions by claiming Smith was less sensitive to animals as he had grown up in the country.
‘Mr Smith fed a chook to a hungry alligator,’ he told the court.
Mr Wrench added that his client was disappointed in himself.
Betty White, the silky bantam chicken, was picked up by Smith and tossed to alligators who killed her in front of visitors inside Oakvale Wildlife Park in January
Peter William Smith, 57, (pictured) pleaded guilty on Tuesday. His lawyer Bryan Wrench (right) said his client grew up on a farm and was less sensitive to animals
Magistrate Kirralee Perry described Smith’s actions were serious.
‘I don’t think making light of this situation is the best approach,’ she said.
Local chicken hobbyist Julia Davies was in court for hearing and said she was appalled’ by Mr Wrench’s comments.
‘A chicken is more than just a dinner plate, they’re actually someone’s pet,’ she said.
‘There’s children that come home, especially special needs children, [where] a chook sitting on their lap gives them so much joy.’
Oakvale Wildlife Park chief executive Leanne Sansom said Betty White was part of a threatened species breeding program.
Oakvale Wildlife Park has been operating for 45 years but its CEO said it has never experienced anything like what had happened to Betty White
Ms Sansom said the death of Betty White had been ‘distressing’, especially for the keepers who were close to her.
The CEO said the wildlife park, which has been operating for 45 years, was relieved the grandfather pleaded guilty.
‘[We’ve] certainly never experienced anything like that in that period of time. It was just horrible,’ she said.
Smith will be sentenced in November.