SUNDAY MAIL (Brisbane, Australia) 16 October 05 Mystery over death on bowling green (Lou Robson)
There were 120 men on the green but none is talking.
Sunshine Coast lawn bowlers have closed ranks to protect an elderly man accused of killing a brown snake during a bowls tournament at the Kawana Waters club last week.
Witnesses, who contacted the RSPCA, described seeing the man in his 70s bash the snake with a metal pole.
But no one was willing to name him after the RSPCA was called to investigate the alleged illegal killing.
The maximum penalty for wilfully killing Australian fauna is $75,000.
Caloundra Memorial Bowls Club member Stan Gresham, 75, said the incident stopped play about 2.45pm last Saturday.
"It was pennant day, which is a fiercely contested competition, and there were more than 100 men in their whites out there'," Mr Gresham said.
"I saw the man hit the snake with what appeared to be a metal stake of some kind and then lift the snake over the fence but I couldn't tell you who he was or what insignia he wore on his bowling whites."
The retired shipping officer said it was hard to tell one player from another when there were so many white uniforms on the green.
"I can't think of anywhere it would be easier to blend in," he said.
"What better way to get away with murder?"
Mr Gresham said he didn't know if the 1.5m snake was alive or dead when it was lifted over the fence.
"I know the snake was lying in the sand on the edge of the green enjoying the sunshine and the fellow was probably worried someone might get hurt."
But RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said 90 per cent of people who tried to kill snakes were bitten.
He said killing snakes was "stupid and illegal" and the matter would be investigated. But no formal complaints had been lodged.
"Killing snakes is against the law and anyone who does so could be prosecuted," Mr Beatty said.
A Kawana Waters Bowls Club spokesman said the matter was being investigated.
Mystery over death on bowling green