Dorothy Sloan, 81, of Violet Town, appeared in Benalla Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, December 7, for a special mention.
She faces 291 charges relating to birds and other wildlife, with all charges relating to alleged offences in 2019.
The prosecution alleges the offences fell under three different categories. These were possession of birds and wildlife on the woman’s premises, charges of poisoning, and possession of wildlife found in a freezer.
Ms Sloan’s solicitor Geoffrey Clancy said some matters had been resolved and there would be pleas to certain charges, however he said the “vast majority of charges were in dispute”.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning prosecutor Emma Strugnell said the issue was whether Ms Sloan was responsible for the deaths.
She said some charges were alternative ones to other charges that had been laid for specific incidents, with some to be withdrawn at the contested hearing.
Among the charges are 99 counts of destroying wildlife with poisoned bait.
These relate to 50 wedge-tailed eagles, 48 raptors and one whistling kite.
Ms Sloan is also charged with aggravated cruelty by an act of cruelty through ingesting poisoned bait causing unreasonable pain and suffering which resulted in death.
These related to six wedge-tailed eagles and one whistling kite.
There are also 155 charges of possessing protected wildlife contrary to the Wildlife Act.
This includes 90 wedge-tailed eagles, 25 raptors, two whistling kites, one laughing kookaburra, 15 galahs, five sulphur-crested cockatoos, four eastern grey kangaroos, two wood ducks, three grebes, five hoary-headed grebes, two grey teals and one raven.
There are also 26 charges of possessing wildlife taken from the wild in contravention of the Wildlife Act 1975 or a corresponding law of another state or territory of the Commonwealth.
These relate to seven galahs, two wood ducks, five grebes, three hairless eastern grey kangaroo joeys, five hoary-headed grebes and one grey teal.
The five-day contested hearing will be held at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court from March 28 next year.