Eagle death case abandoned

Some of the birds of prey carcases found at Violet Town.

Charges relating to the poisoning of eagles in the Violet Town district have been struck out following the death of the person charged.

The court was advised on Friday, September 6, of the death of Dorothy Sloan, 84, and noted condolences to the family.

Mrs Sloan was found guilty on July 24 of baiting wedge-tailed eagles and other birds of prey using other dead birds and animals doused with a chemical generally used on crops.

In a nine-day hearing — which ended in December — Mrs Sloan pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of killing wildlife by poison, including baiting 23 medium-sized raptors and 11 wedge-tailed eagles.

She also pleaded not guilty to seven counts of aggravated cruelty that resulted in the deaths of six wedge-tailed eagles and a whistling kite because of a poisoned bait, and five counts of possessing protected wildlife.

In July, Magistrate David Faram found her guilty on all charges.