Shannon Adamson leaves court yesterday.
A KANGAROO killer wholly denies taunting wildlife supporters yesterday and claims they in fact harassed him.
Shannon Adamson, 22, was convicted and sentenced to serve a 12-month community corrections order, complete 150 hours of unpaid community work and undergo rehabilitation to prevent future re-offending.
He was sentenced by Magistrate Bruce Cottrill in the Bendigo Magistrates Court this morning in relation to five separate charges, including wilfully injuring protected wildlife.
Mr Cottrill told Adamson the community had a right to be outraged by his behaviour.
"There is an underlying element of cruelty," he said.
"It appears that one or both of the accused caused the knife injuries and your actions on this night show you have no respect for animals."
In relation to Adamson's accusations that Justice for Josie supporters harassed him, Mr Cottrill said it "was a free world" and if they had broken the law, then it would be dealt with in court.
He said if it had been proved that Adamson taunted the supporters, it could have changed the outcome of his sentence.
In a court hearing yesterday, Adamson pleaded guilty to taking a kangaroo from the wildlife, pushing it down a flight of stairs in a trolley and leaving it to die on April 27 last year.
The kangaroo was found by an unknown party a short time later, with cuts on its body and its intestines hanging out.
He denies using a knife.
The co-offender in the matter, Dusty O'Neill, 19, admitted last year to running over the kangaroo and transporting it to the Coles carpark in his car. He was also sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order in December for similar charges.
Justice for Josie supporters say while they're relieved the pair were convicted, they believe tougher sentences are needed to set a precedent.
"We don't want people to think they can get away with this, that's why we've made it so public," Jo Lyall said.
"This was a gruesome act and people came together to support Josie."
Another Justice for Josie member broke down in tears, saying the case was "absolutely heartbreaking".
They deny harassing Adamson, saying that he was waiting for them in the court car park but they ignored him.