Target: Sally Dowling SC, Director of Public Prosecutions, New South Wales, Australia
Goal: Appeal the 14-month sentence and impose a lifelong prohibition on animal ownership for the man who rode over a joey, punched a kangaroo, and kicked baby goats for sport.
Videos posted online captured Jet Jai Johnson laughing as he chased a terrified adult kangaroo, punched the animal in the head, and slammed it into the ground. Another clip showed him driving a motorbike over a joey’s head and leg, while separate footage recorded him punting week-old kid goats through the air as if they were footballs. A magistrate condemned the cruelty and sentenced Johnson to 14 months in prison with a non-parole period of six months.
The shocking acts caused severe pain, fear, and distress. Veterinary experts noted that one of the goats weighed barely four kilograms when it was kicked with full force. Despite the brutality, Johnson could walk free early next year and, under current orders, faces no lasting restriction on possessing or working with animals.
A short custodial term without a permanent animal-ownership ban risks trivialising violence inflicted on vulnerable creatures and fails to protect future animals from harm. To uphold community expectations and deter copycat offenses, the prosecution should appeal for a lengthier sentence and seek court-ordered lifetime disqualification from owning or handling animals.
PETITION LETTER:
Director Dowling,
A New South Wales magistrate recently sentenced Jet Jai Johnson to 14 months in custody, with eligibility for parole after six months, following his guilty pleas to five counts of extreme animal cruelty. Videos he filmed show him riding a motorbike over a joey, repeatedly punching an adult kangaroo, and kicking tiny kid goats while joking about his “good kick.” These deliberate attacks caused immense suffering and were broadcast for entertainment.
Although the court recognised the seriousness of the crimes, the relatively brief non-parole period and absence of a lifetime animal-ownership prohibition do not reflect the gravity of the violence or adequately safeguard other animals. Individuals who find pleasure in tormenting living beings pose an ongoing threat to animal welfare and, research indicates, to public safety more broadly.
We respectfully urge the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to lodge an appeal seeking a sterner sentence and to request a permanent ban preventing Johnson from owning, working with, or residing with animals. Strengthening the penalty will affirm that New South Wales will not tolerate cruelty and will help prevent future suffering.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Tatters
