'Gyeongui Line Railway Cat Killing' Man in His 40s Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison in Second Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] A man in his 40s who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for abusing a cat to death last July at Gyeongui Line Book Street in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was also sentenced to prison in the second trial.

The Criminal Appeal Division 1 of the Seoul Western District Court (Chief Judge Naeju Lee) upheld the six-month prison sentence given in the first trial to Jeong Mo (40), who was charged with violating the Animal Protection Act and property damage, on the 13th.

Jeong is accused of catching a cat owned by a nearby bar owner, Mr. A, at Gyeongui Line Book Street in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of July 13, and abusing it by repeatedly throwing it on the ground, ultimately killing it (violating the Animal Protection Act and property damage). Jeong was sentenced to six months in prison and detained in court in the first trial last November. Both Jeong and the prosecution appealed immediately after the first trial.

The court stated, "The method of the crime is very cruel, and it is difficult to find any attitude of respecting life in the defendant," adding, "The defendant recognized that the cat had an owner but abused the cat, which did not harm him, making the act highly condemnable." It further added, "Abandoning the cat's corpse in a corner where it is not easily seen by people does not appear to be a spontaneous crime."

Earlier, at the appeal trial's closing arguments held on the 13th of last month, the prosecution requested the court to sentence Jeong to one year and six months in prison. The prosecution pointed out, "Jeong claims he did not know the cat he killed was someone else's property, but during the investigation and trial, the owner was revealed, and he made no effort to seek forgiveness from the victim." They added, "Due to the cruel method of the crime and the social outrage it caused, a prison sentence was imposed for violating the Animal Protection Act in the first trial. Since the death of the cat was foreseeable and there is no remorse, we ask the court to overturn the original ruling and sentence him to one year and six months in prison."

In his final statement, Jeong appealed for leniency, saying, "I do not know if animal organizations will accept a sinner like me because of this incident, but if given the chance, I will volunteer with a repentant heart and take the lead in protecting abused animals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.