Given the latter is a ongoing court matter we can't and won't dwell on that for now, suffice to say that it's troubling when someone who volunteers to keep the rest of us safe from such disasters is alleged to have been one of those behind some.

He is of course entitled to the presumption of innocence and his day in court, so this story is yet to play out.

As to the former, it's playing out in a way almost as abhorrent as the original crime.

Nathan Sanger pleaded guilty to his role in killing 21 kangaroos in a night of carnage at Tura Beach. Readers may be surprised to hear that the 20-year-old was supported in court by not only his parents but by Alexandra Seddon, founder of native animal sanctuary Potoroo Palace.

He had spent some time volunteering at the sanctuary following the September incident. But instead of the community seeing this as a young man on a path to some sort of redemption for his admitted terrible actions, there has been an outpouring of hatred.

Alexandra and Potoroo Palace director Peter Nicholson wrote to me this week in sadness about "the hate coming from some sections in the community". Even to the point of one of the sanctuary's staff members reportedly being spat on while shopping on Wednesday.

"Potoroo Palace and Cowsnest Community Farm are about conservation, education and community," they said. "Over the 13 years of Potoroo Palace's existence, we have been not only a sanctuary for animals, but for people who have had many problems fitting in with general society because of reasons such as bullying, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental health, trauma.

"Our ethics demand that we try to help rehabilitate people as well as animals.

"It is very sad to see the hate that is coming from some sections of the community recently due to our latest attempt to help a young man who has done a terrible thing.

"This decision was taken by a majority of directors and has nothing to do with our general staff. It is disgusting that one of the staff was spat on at Woolworths today."

Regardless of what you feel for Sanger and his crime, surely this reaction is unacceptable?