Sun sets on camel wars

Finally closing a chapter of Broome’s “camel wars”, former Ships of the Desert licensee Chris Hill was convicted last Friday in the District Court of stealing merchandise worth $70,000 and a painting from Red Sun Camels in 2009.

Hill was also found guilty of stealing an ablution block from the Broome Wildlife Care and Rescue Association in 2009 and breaking into a caravan owned by another former business rival, Steve Madden, and stealing personal documents.

However, he was acquitted of slashing Mr Madden’s tyres and sabotaging his bore and stealing plants from Broome’s Frangipani Resort.

The jury took almost five hours to reach a verdict after hearing days of testimony about the bitter rivalry between camel operators in Broome, which included allegations of name calling, obscene gestures and sabotage.

Instructing the jury, Judge Stephen Scott conceded they did “not have to be Rhodes Scholars” to realise there had been “blues” between the different operators for several years but asked them to put what they had heard aside as they considered the evidence.

In closing, defence counsel Greg McIntyre pointed out that Hill’s ex-girlfriend Jade Trevenen, who had admitted being angry with him after their relationship ended badly in 2009, was the sole witness to five of the offences.

He said Ms Trevenen knew a conviction against Hill could result in his camel licence being withdrawn and suggested she had conspired with Red Sun Camels owner John Geappen to put him out of business so she could obtain a licence of her own.

Mr Geappen was also angry with Hill after he walked out on Red Sun Camels to run the rival Ships of the Desert camel business on his own in 2009, he said.

Mr McIntyre suggested it was Mr Geappen who had damaged Mr Madden’s property and stolen the ablution block, describing him as a “personality of extremes” and saying the hostility between operators predated Hill’s arrival in Broome.

The jury rejected Mr McIntyre’s argument that Hill had an honest belief he was allowed to take the camel merchandise as he had a 16 per cent share in Red Sun Camels when he left and his name was on the Ships of the Desert licence and lease.

They also rejected the suggestion he had been given the painting as a gift.

Judge Stephen Scott reserved sentencing until later this month. Hill, who is now working in the Northern Territory, was released on bail with a $5000 surety and ordered not to contact any Red Sun Camels employees.