NSW: Qantas escapes conviction over deer deaths

AAP General News (Australia)
02-27-2001
NSW: Qantas escapes conviction over deer deaths

SYDNEY, Feb 27 AAP - Qantas Airways has escaped conviction on animal cruelty charges
despite pleading guilty over the death of 68 deer aboard one of its jets last year.

Sutherland Local Court was told today the deer perished in small, crowded crates during
a 90-minute flight from Brisbane to Sydney on February 15, 2000.

The deer were part of a group of 114 female Javan rusa deer headed for Bangkok's University
of Thailand.

Magistrate Elaine Truscott said the deer had been subject to overcrowding, a slippery
floor, short containers and …