A group of vegan activists who took part in a brazen midnight raid on an abattoir employed 'extortion-like' tactics in return for them leaving the property, a court has heard.
Eight of the protesters who stormed onto the Carey Bros Abattoir, near Warwick on April 8, faced court on Thursday were fined and seven of them convicted for the trespassing incident.
Staff at the Warwick abattoir turned up to work at about 3.20am on April 8 to find 21 activists, 18 of them chained to equipment.
A group of smug vegans activists including Amie Louise Joseph-Hall (left) and Scott Miller (right) who took part in the midnight raid of an abattoir employed extortion like tactics in return for them leaving the property a court heard
Staff at the Warwick abattoir turned up to work at about 3.20am on April 8 to find 21 activists, 18 of them chained to equipment
Police were called, with the protest group showing them previously taken video depicting the slaughter of livestock.
'A spokesperson told the manager of the abattoir that they would leave peacefully if he would supply them with three lives, being sheep, that they could save,' police prosecutor Kathy Clark told the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
'At that time, they did not offer any payment for the sheep and the manager agreed to provide the sheep to facilitate them leaving the place.'
The farmer also had to pay his 20 staff overtime of four hours each due to the delays caused by the trespassing.
Defence lawyer Mark Glaser represented all eight of the protesters and argued they were compliant and cooperative with police.
He also argued that recording a conviction would hinder all of their chances at future employment, all eight already hold part time or full time jobs.
'No one damaged property, while we accept profits were lost...
