Former Warrnambool horse trainer Jarrod McLean and Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir will face the Ballarat Magistrates' Court today for the first day of a two-day contested committal hearing.
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The four accused - McLean, Weir, Tyson Kermond and William Hernan, are facing several charges, with all but Hernan defending themselves against a charge of conspiracy to defraud.
Lawyers for the accused, and Weir himself, faced the Ballarat Magistrates' Court online last month for a special mention - it was confirmed seven witnesses will be cross-examined, including a number of police officers.
Magistrate Ron Saines said the online hearing next month could be a "first" for the number of co-accused and the number of witnesses in an online court hearing.
Court sessions are being held online across the state due to the unfolding coronavirus pandemic.
"It's certainly a bold venture but it can only succeed if we give it a go," Mr Saines told the court.
He noted he had experienced issues with online hearings previously and asked for goodwill from all parties if technical difficulties arose.
A police raid was conducted on stables in Warrnambool early last year.
The men face a combined 34 charges.
Charge sheets show McLean is facing 16 charges, including conspiring to 'cheat and defraud' Racing Victoria and using a conducted energy device on the three racehorses, charged with the same animal cruelty offences as Weir.
In addition, he is accused of corrupting a betting outcome by engaging in an 'illicit covert training regime' with Red Cardinal and Yogi in October and November 2018, with the intention of gaining financial advantage by betting on the horse.
It is alleged the training regime was designed to deceive stewards and Racing Victoria by psychologically conditioning the horses using a conducted energy device, blinkers, poly pipe and whistling while training on a treadmill.
The charge sheet states McLean allegedly told William Hernan and Colin Cannon about his 'illicit covert training regime' with Yogi, knowing they would, or would be likely to bet on the horse.
McLean is also accused of placing a $100 multi bet on Yogi and two other horses to potentially win $2750, a $60 quinella bet including Yogi and another $100 each way bet on Yogi to potentially win $1540 on November 2, 2018.
He also allegedly bet $100 each way on Red Cardinal on November 6, 2018 to potentially win $5200, knowing about the horse's 'illicit' training regime.
McLean is also charged with possessing cocaine in January 2019.
Fellow trainer Weir is accused of using a conducted energy device on Cup hopeful Yogi while it was running on a treadmill and wearing blinkers at Warrnambool on October 30, 2018, causing the horse 'unreasonable pain or suffering'.
It states Weir was allegedly engaged in the 'torturing, abusing, overworking, and terrifying' of Yogi.
Charge sheets show Weir allegedly committed the same acts of animal cruelty on racehorses Red Cardinal and Tosen Basil on the same day.
Weir is also accused of using a controlled weapon without legal excuse and possessing two unregistered longarms.
Stable hand Kermond is charged for his involvement in Weir and McLean's illicit training regime of the three racehorses.
Stable hand Hernan is charged with using corrupt conduct information from McLean to place a bet on Yogi.
At the September contested committal hearing, the evidence against the four accused will be tested and the magistrate will determine whether it should go to trial in the County Court.
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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