Ceejay Greenwood, 29, was allegedly driving a stolen truck on June 28 when balaclavas, bolt cutters and gloves were found by police.
Greenwood’s phone was also seized and police allegedly found a video of a caged cat being shot and killed at point-blank range.
Police seized the butt of a rifle, a Taser, more than $18,000 in cash, 170 vials of human growth hormones and a Rebels-branded vest during a raid on July 2.
Greenwood was initially charged with stolen vehicle, weapons and drug offences, before being arrested again and charged with further weapons and animal cruelty offences.
His family watched on from the courtroom as he appeared via a video link to seek bail at Campbelltown Local Court today.
His lawyer Ahmed Dib said Greenwood would need to care for his family, who recently had to relocate due to a home invasion.
He argued the matter could take years to go through the courts and he could spend several years in jail.
“If he’s found guilty, I have not shied away from that he will receive that full-time custodial sentence,” Dib said.
He argued for leniency as Greenwood had previously complied with court orders and has a clean record.
But the prosecutor argued the case was “overwhelming” due to videos of him allegedly shooting the cat found on his mobile phone.
“He (sings) snippets of (a) song, angles the video towards the cat … approaches it and angles the rifle with the frame showing his shoes and his red jumper pointing at his cage,” magistrate Maryanne Higginson said while reading the alleged facts.
“(He is then) captured pulling the trigger.”
But the footage does not identify his face and an expert would need to analyse other items in the video such as the shoes, clothing and voices, Dib said.
Higginson denied Greenwood bail based on the strength of the prosecution case.
“The charges are no doubt serious,” she said.
Greenwood is also accused of stabbing a man at a rugby gala in June 2024, the court was told.
All of his charges have been adjourned to a later date.
As his family got up to leave, Greenwood looked into the camera and said “I love you”.
