EXCLUSIVE
A renowned Tasmanian fisherman accused of filming his partner pleasuring her with a live fish will fight accusations of producing and possessing bestiality material.
Ashley David Hallam’s alleged camera work made global headlines last year after the sight hit social media and quickly went viral under the hashtag ‘Aussie Trout Lady’.
An international outcry led to both Hallam and his partner, Catherine June Lee, being charged with a series of bestiality offenses over the vulgar video.
Police allege the footage shows Lee lying on her back in a boat while Hallam performs a sex act on her with a live brown trout.
“This is how you catch a trout,” a man’s voice is heard saying in the video.
The embarrassing scandal created by the disturbing video (and the resulting criminal charges) appears to have put a strain on the couple’s relationship.
Hallam appeared alone in Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday to face two counts of manufacturing or reproducing a beastly product and three counts of possessing a beastly product between February 2022 and January 25, 2023.
Ashley David Hallam remains tight-lipped as he leaves Hobart Magistrates’ Court on Friday after pleading not guilty to bestiality offenses relating to an alleged live fish sex tape.
Hallam arrives at court alone with no sign of his fellow co-defendant, Catherine June Lee, who appeared by telephone.
The award-winning angler, once a regular feature in Tasmanian fishing columns and blogs, sat quietly alone in the state judicial building before entering courtroom number five shortly after 10am.
He did not react when the court first called his co-accused, Lee, at his home in Howden, suburban Hobart, after magistrate Marcia Duvnjak agreed to allow him to appear by telephone.
“Hello, I’m Catherine,” the 58-year-old said cheerfully as she took the call before changing to a more somber tone after being asked to confirm her identity in court.
Lee was expected to plead guilty to two counts of manufacturing or reproducing a bestiality product and possessing a bestiality product, but instead requested a further adjournment.
Moments after the call ended, Hallam, dressed in a navy blue jacket and cream trousers, was called before Magistrate Duvnjak and stood as his lawyer pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of bestiality and another. of possession of it.
Prosecutors dropped the remaining charges against him as “duplicative” and also dropped the second charge of committing or reproducing bestiality against Lee for the same reason.
The couple’s matters were presented separately for further mention on January 15, when the magistrate indicated that a date would be set for Hallam’s trial.
The 55-year-old refused to discuss his fight to clear his name to Daily Mail Australia as he left court, saying only: “We’ll see what happens… regards, thanks for that.”
Hallam changes from his courtroom coup in the front yard of a fisherman friend’s house.
The fish enthusiast changed into more comfortable clothes for the long trip home.
Hallam then walked around the block from the courthouse and waited patiently in a nearby cemetery before his sister, prominent Tasmanian real estate agent Anastasia Hallam, picked him up from work in her car.
After driving to a nearby shopping center, the real estate portfolio manager went to stock up on supplies, including a case of wine from a BWS bottle shop, while her brother stayed in the car.
They then drove to the suburban home of a fishing friend in Herdsman Cove, about 20 kilometers north of the central business district of Tasmania’s capital, where Hallam changed out of the clothes he was wearing in the courtroom and changed into a black T-shirt and jeans in the front yard.
After a quick chat with their partner, the brothers soon set off again on the long journey back to Hallam’s home on the other side of the island state.
Many of Hallam and Lee’s friends have become estranged in the wake of the bestiality allegations, with Daily Mail Australia previously revealing the pair have been widely shunned within Tasmania’s strong fishing community.
Family friends said Hallam’s father David, a highly regarded local fisherman, had been horrified to learn of the allegations in the months before his death.
Hallam has been disowned by Tasmania’s legendary Tuna Club just months after he paid tribute to his family’s long history with the iconic fishing institution.
Ashley Hallam’s father, David, was president of the family fishing club.
The Tuna Club of Tasmania paid tribute to the family’s distinguished connection with the associate ahead of a memorial service for Hallam’s late father on January 18.
“On behalf of the President and members, the Tuna Club of Tasmania extends our deepest condolences to the family of David Hallam,” the club said in an announcement on its official Facebook page ahead of the ceremony.
‘David was a past president and extremely active competitor in the (Tuna Club of Tasmania) for many years.
‘During this time he passionately participated in club competitions with his family Rebecca and Ashley.
“The Hallam family’s record of success is a highlight in our club’s deep history.”
But just six months later, in August, the “family club” vehemently denied any current relationship with the accused fisherman or his partner.
“Ashley Hallam and Catherine Lee have absolutely no involvement in the club and are not members,” a Tuna Club of Tasmania spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
“And they have had no relationship with the club for at least the last three decades.”
Hallam and Lee have been charged with a series of bestiality offences.
The public scorn comes after Lee’s former veterinary clinic employer also took steps to distance itself from alleged fish abusers after the sickening sight first went viral last January.
“Dear valued clients, pets and supporters of Kingston Animal Hospital,” clinic owner Dr. Chris Lee told clients in an online announcement.
‘I have recently learned that a former employee of the hospital has recently come under the spotlight for appearing (allegedly) in a video that has been widely circulated on social media.
‘Please understand that this person is no longer a paid employee, has not worked at Kingston Animal Hospital for over 5 years and has been a full-time employee for over 10 years.
“I would like to apologize for any distress this matter may have caused you.”