Tasmania's bestiality law to be reviewed after man's successful court appeal

The state government waited until the appeal period had concluded for the matter before signalling its intention to review the laws, which were introduced in 2017 as part of a suite of reforms to rape laws.

Tasmania changed the charge from "unnatural sexual intercourse" to "bestiality".

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Hobart man Ammar Ibrahim Elnami, 21, was charged with bestiality after engaging in sexual acts with a dog in 2019, but successfully appealed the decision due to a lack of sexual penetration.

The Director of Public Prosecutions chose not to appeal the decision of Justice Stephen Estcourt, which included an analysis of the history of bestiality laws spanning centuries, definitions and the recent reforms.

The government intended for the new law to cover all acts of bestiality, but Justice Estcourt found the term did not cover Mr Elnami's act under the definition of the term.

A government spokesperson confirmed it "will now undertake a review of the legislation as a result of the decision".