Taiwan student sentenced to 18 months for killing cats

Taipei - A court in Taiwan has sentenced a former graduate student to 18 months in jail for torturing and killing cats, in what was the stiffest-ever punishment against animal abusers on the island, a judge said Wednesday.

Lee Nien-lung, 34, a former marine engineering student, was found guilty of torturing and killing at least three kittens he adopted from others or homes for stray animals, judge Huang Chun-ming said.

"As an educated person, he should not have tortured and even killed domestic animals just for his own satisfaction," Huang said. "Nor would he show remorse for what he had done."

At least 10 kittens adopted by Lee were mysteriously found dying tragically in late 2008, having been skinned and had their tails chopped off, prompting those who gave away the animals to start a series of investigations. One woman who gave her kitten to Lee officially took the case to the judicial authorities for investigation early last year.

Huang said Lee was found to have tortured and killed at least three kittens, including placing one in a spinning machine and squeezing another kitten wrapped by a towel until it suffocated.

Huang, who said he would appeal the ruling at the high court, was the first Taiwanese getting such a stiff penalty for violation of the animal protection law. Previous punishments were usually three-month imprisonment convertible by fines.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/316624,taiwan-student-sentenced-to-18-months-for-killing-cats.html.