Charges laid over bird killings

Three men charged with killing 32 birds at the Temuka aviary, north of Timaru, will appear in court tomorrow.

When they appeared in court yesterday, Jonathan Ramon Douglas Fleming, 22, and Simiona Paul John, 27, were remanded to appear alongside a third man, aged 21, the Timaru Herald reported.

John and the 21-year-old were arrested on Friday and Fleming on Saturday. They have been jointly charged with burglary and wilfully ill-treating the birds causing them to die.

Many of the birds were decapitated and feathers ripped from their bodies during the attack last week. Their remains were then scattered.

Timaru Bird Club president Joy Agnew encouraged members to attend the court hearing.

- NZPA