Darren Weir has been charges by the Victorian Police

© Racing.com

By Andrew Eddy

Victoria Police have charged former champion trainer Darren Weir over alleged animal cruelty and conspiracy offences over alleged animal cruelty and conspiracy offenses.

The case against Weir includes charges of conspiracy to defraud Racing Victoria, engaging in the torturing, abusing, overworking and terrifying of a thoroughbred race horse, and causing unreasonable pain or suffering to a thoroughbred race horse.

Weir and three other people also charged on Wednesday will face a hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 23.

Weir has been under investigation by police since three electronic jiggers - devices used to electronically shock horses - were found in a bedroom of his Ballarat home in January.

Weir and two other men - fellow trainer Jarrod McLean and former Weir employee Tyson Kermond - were arrested and released without charge following the January 29 raids.

Weir was later disqualified for four years by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after pleading no contest to four charges, three of them in relation to the possession of the electronic apparatus on his licensed premises and the other for conduct prejudicial to the image of racing.
 

This article first appeared on Racing.com and is reprinted here with their kind permission. To find out more about Racing Victoria's Off the Track program, visit rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track.

READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE