Committing Crime to Prevent Animal Cruelty: The Necessity Defence (NSW Supreme Court)

On 21 June 2018, a group of animal lovers entered 220 Mowbray Park Road, Lakesland, New South Wales, and removed egg-laying chickens, to prevent them being subjected to ongoing gruelty.

They were charged and convicted in the New South Wales local court, for offences against the Inclosed Lands Protection Act.

In this episode, I outline the background to the matter, and the group’s appeal to the New South Wales Supreme Court, where they relied on the defence of necessity.

Lopes v Cook [2020] NSWSC 1776

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