Conviction for selling illegal wild goat meat upheld

A Waitara man has lost his high court appeal against a conviction of selling illegally processed wild goat meat for human consumption.

Brian Terrence Crow, 64, had earlier been charged with three counts of selling non-complying animal product, together with another person, by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

Brian pleaded not guilty, largely on the grounds he was selling the goats alive to another party, and while he was allowing them to be processed on his property and sometimes helped, this was not part of the purchase agreement. He was convicted on October 16, 2014 in New Plymouth District and sentenced to 150 hours community work.

Brian appealed his conviction, but it was upheld by the High Court in New Plymouth on March 26, 2015.

The charges related to Brian rounding up wild goats around the Taranaki region and bringing them to his property where they were killed, processed and sold.

People supplying meat for sale for human consumption must source the meat from appropriate MPI registered suppliers and the meat is inspected and processed at a registered facility.

MPI Compliance General Investigator, Niamh Murphy, says these regulations are in place to ensure the meat does not contain any poisons, diseases or bacterial contamination from processing.

"These regulations are to protect the health of consumers and MPI takes any breaches very seriously."

MPI began investigating the slaughter and sale of goats at Brian's property after receiving a tip-off in January 2013.

MPI investigators executed a search warrant at his house on March 26, 2013 finding about $2000 in cash which Brian referred to as "goat money".

Investigators also found four deposit books dating back to 2005 showing more than $43,000 deposited with goats referenced on the stubs.

To report any suspect illegal home-kill sales please contact the MPI Foodline 0800 693721. All calls are confidential.