Hong Kong:~Stray Cat Killers Jailed

[Hand In Hand With Asia]

Two men have been jailed 16 months each for a brutal attack on a stray cat last year, in what's believed to be the heaviest punishment ever meted out by a Hong Kong court for animal cruelty.
Deputy Magistrate Kennis Tai said she hopes the stiff sentence will set a deterrent, and send a strong message that animal rights must be respected.
The horrific attack took place at the Shun Tin housing estate in Kwun Tong last November where witnesses had reported seeing a group of people kicking the cat like it was a football, while others looked on and laughed.
The attack left the stray with severe internal injuries, and it had to be euthanised the a day later.
Ms Tai sentenced So Pak-lam and Yeung Kiu-yue to a year and four months in jail each - which she hopes will deter other would be offenders from committing similar crimes.

Another woman accused of taking part in the abuse, Kong Ka-man, will be sentenced later pending a drug rehabilitation report.
The Magistrate said the trio had abused the cat for their pleasure, and had inflicted severe pain on the animal without feeling any sympathy for the stray.
Ms Tai said the court has been highly concerned about the case, given the severe degree of cruelty involved, and added that the sentence should send a strong message that animal rights must be respected.