One of the mares from the Bulla property; this images was taken directly after removal from the property.
© Horse Shepherd Equine Sanctuary
By Racing.com
The man who starved horses on his Bulla property has been jailed for six months on appeal to the County Court, the Herald Sun is reporting.
Bruce Akers, a former Olympic wrestler, will spend the next six months in jail, after which he must complete a 12-month community corrections order.
Equestrian Life featured Horse Shepherd Sanctuary – a rescue organisation that took on most of the surviving horses from the Bulla case – in the May/June 2017 issue.The above images show one of the Bulla horses rehabilitated (left) and at the time of the rescue (right).
The Herald Sun claimed Akers had originally been sentenced in secret last May at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
He was given 18 months’ jail with a non-parole period of nine months, after admitting 23 charges of animal neglect.
The Herald Sun reported the outcome of his County Court appeal after contesting the court-imposed gag order.
Police claim more than a dozen horses died after the former racehorse trainer failed to provide food and water to them on his property northwest of Melbourne. Three other malnourished horses, among 21 taken into care by the RSPCA, had to be euthanised.
One of the Bulla horses, pictured here two months after the rescue in 2016.
© Racing.com
Akers represented Australia at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.
In sentencing Akers on Monday, the Herald Sun said Judge Carolene Gwynn said she took into account the additional mental assessments provided to her that were not available to the magistrate last May.
Equestrian Life featured Horse Shepherd Sanctuary – a rescue organisation that took on most of the surviving horses from the Bulla case – in the May/June 2017 issue. The above are two young horse pictured after being rehabilitated at the sanctuary.
This article first appeared on the Racing Victoria website (racing.com) and is reprinted here with their kind permission. For more on the Off the Track program please visit rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track
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