Arabic version: مزارع يزعم التعرّض لتهديد بسلاح عقب الاعتداء على أغنامه

According to ABC News, a south Canberra farmer alleged that men accused of killing sheep and ransacking his home pointed a gun at him while fleeing the property last month.

Police said the offenders entered the rural property near the Monaro Highway in Tuggeranong sometime between the afternoon of September 16 and 8am on September 17. Court documents said they used an angle grinder to cut the padlock on the front gate. Police alleged the men mustered sheep into a holding yard and fired multiple rounds from a .22 calibre rifle.

One sheep was found dead, while others were injured. A sheep handler found one animal covered in blood and another missing an eye. A vet later assessed the sheep, with three euthanased; another had a broken neck and another had a broken jaw. Police said four sheep were killed and two others were left with broken bones. Officers seized ammunition casings, a long machete and a broken padlock.

The farmer returned at about 11pm on the day of the incident and saw a silver sedan at the front gate, police said. He alleged the passenger leaned out of the window and pointed a gun at him as the vehicle accelerated away. He followed the sedan but lost it in Chisolm.

Memphis Auld, 18, has been charged with four counts of joint commission aggravated animal cruelty causing death, aggravated burglary with intent to damage property, and other firearm and driving offences. Police also charged him with trafficking cannabis after seizing cannabis, mobile phones and alleged images from his Richardson home. Investigators said a 27-year-old man in custody for other matters is also expected to be charged.