A former animal shelter worker has admitted she planned to sell a jar containing a human toe and several bone fragments on the black market.
Lilydale mum Joanna Kathlyn Kinman, 47, from Melbourne’s north-east, will plead guilty to one count of offensive conduct involving human remains when her case returns to court on March 17.
Her lawyer Rainer Martini indicated his client’s plan to plead guilty when the case was mentioned in Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
A dog was surrendered to a shelter in the Yarra Ranges where Kinman was volunteering last February following the natural death of its owner, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
It’s understood the dog ate part of its owner’s foot before his body was discovered, the Herald Sun reported.
The pet vomited up a toe and other remains, which were allegedly stored in a jar by Kinman with the intent of selling them on the black market.
Kinman was later arrested following a tip-off to police but was released without charge.
Following a six month investigation, she was arrested again last August and charged with offensive conduct involving human remains.
Joanna Kathlyn Kinman (pictured) will plead guilty to collecting the human remains to sell on the black market
The full details of Kinman’s alleged crimes will be laid bare when the case returns to court in March.
She faces up to two years’ imprisonment.
Mr Martini informed the court on Monday that his client is undergoing sessions with a forensic psychologist to understand the reasoning of her action.
‘The court may be interested in looking at the avenue with regard to why my client thought this was appropriate behaviour,’ Mr Martini said.
He has sought for Kinman to be sentenced to a diversion program, which would see her undergo rehabilitation instead of jail time.
A human toe and bone fragments were kept in a jar by the former animal shelter volunteer (pictured) after the remains were vomited up by a surrendered dog
Medical reports from Kinman’s counsellor and doctor will also be submitted for consideration, the court heard.
The court heard that the prosecutors were ‘not keen’ on Mr Martini’s diversion proposal.
‘It’s possibly unlikely that they would agree to it, given the informant is not too keen on the idea, apparently,’ Mr Martini said.
Kinman is no longer employed at the animal shelter, which cannot be named for legal reasons.
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