Former Ballarat horse trainer Darren Weir and his co-accused will have to wait another two weeks to find out if they will stand trial on conspiracy to defraud, corrupt betting and animal torture charges.
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Weir, his fellow trainer McLean and stable hand Tyson Kermond's charges range from corrupt betting to conspiring to deceive stewards and animal torture involving 2018 Melbourne Cup runner Red Cardinal, as well as Melbourne Cup hopefuls Yogi and Tosen Basil.
Weir and McLean are accused of conspiring "to cheat and defraud the stewards of Racing Victoria".
They faced the online Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Thursday where magistrate Ron Saines hoped to provide his judgement.
But Mr Saines said he would have to delay his decision because he was made aware of case law on Thursday morning.
Weir's defence and the prosecution raised two separate case law for the magistrate to consider.
"I was made aware of case law today so I don't consider it just to seek to proceed today," Mr Saines said.
"We will unfortunately have to give another date."
The hearing was adjourned to October 19.
A two-day contested committal hearing was held via the online court in September for Weir and his two co-accused. Weir's stable hand, William Hernan, was not involved in the contested committal hearing.
Four prosecution witnesses gave evidence, including horse behaviour expert and horse trainer Dr Andrew Neil McLean; Racing Victoria chairman of stewards Robert Cram; Senior Constable Matthew Don, who investigated the case while he was working in the sporting integrity unit; and sporting integrity unit's Detective Senior Constable Cliff Pickett.
See how the committal hearing unfolded:
Weir was arrested following a raid at his Ballarat stables in January 2019.
The charges
Trainer Darren Kenneth Weir, 50, is facing a total of 11 charges.
These include:
- Conspiring with McLean and Kermond to 'cheat and defraud the stewards of Racing Victoria' that rules of racing had been complied with
- Using a conducted energy device, known as a jigger on horses Yogi, Red Cardinal and Tosen Basil while running on a treadmill wearing blinkers in Warrnambool on October 30, 2018
- Using a controlled weapon without lawful excuse on October 30, 2018 in Warrnambool
- Possessing an unregistered longarm at Warrnambool on October 30, 2018 and at Miners Rest on January 30, 2019
- Conspiring with McLean and Kermond to 'cheat and defraud people with a financial interest in the result of the Lexus Stakes, Sandown Cup and Melbourne Cup in 2018 by training the horses contrary to the rules of Racing Victoria
Trainer Jarrod Alexander McLean, 39, is facing a total of 17 charges.
These include:
- Conspiring with Weir and Kermond to 'cheat and defraud the stewards of Racing Victoria' that rules of racing had been complied with
- Using a conducted energy device, known as a jigger on horses Yogi, Red Cardinal and Tosen Basil while running on a treadmill wearing blinkers in Warrnambool on October 30, 2018
- Corrupting a betting outcome in October and November 2018 by engaging in 'illicit covert training regime' with Yogi and Red Cardinal with the intention of obtaining financial advantage by betting on the horse
- Telling William Hernan and another man about the corrupt training regime with the horses knowing he would or would be likely to be bet on it
- Using his knowledge of the 'illicit covert training regime' to betting on the horses himself to potentially win thousands of dollars
- Possessing cocaine on January 2019
- Conspiring with Weir and Kermond to 'cheat and defraud people with a financial interest in the result of the Lexus Stakes, Sandown Cup and Melbourne Cup in 2018 by training the horses contrary to the rules of Racing Victoria
Stable hand Tyson Lee Kermond, 32, is facing a total of eight charges.
These include:
- Conspiring with McLean and Weir to 'cheat and defraud the stewards of Racing Victoria' that rules of racing had been complied with
- Using a conducted energy device, known as a jigger on horses Yogi, Red Cardinal and Tosen Basil while running on a treadmill wearing blinkers in Warrnambool on October 30, 2018
- Conspiring with McLean and Weir to 'cheat and defraud people with a financial interest in the result of the Lexus Stakes, Sandown Cup and Melbourne Cup in 2018 by training the horses contrary to the rules of Racing Victoria
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