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Kitten torture update


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[url]http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/01/1088488091449.html?from=moreStories[/url]

Six soldiers sacked yesterday for torturing and killing a litter of kittens had brought shame and discredit on the Australian Defence Force, an army spokesman said.


Their behaviour at an Easter Saturday drinking session at a Townsville barracks was well below expected standards, he said.


The RSPCA welcomed the decision. It had delivered justice for the kittens, a spokesman said.


The soldiers are able to appeal against the decision. Their discharge will be suspended until the appeal is dealt with.


Their treatment of four stray kittens at the Lavarack Barracks prompted nationwide outrage.


One kitten was dragged on a rope behind a motorcycle, then crushed under the tyre of a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Three others were doused with fuel and set alight.


RSPCA national president Hugh Wirth said the organisation now had a measure of satisfaction that proper justice had been delivered for the kittens.


"This was an appallingly barbaric act by those soldiers and the army is quite correct in that there's no place for such humans in the proud Australian army," he said.

"The link between humans being cruel to animals and humans being cruel to humans is direct and obvious."


RSPCA Queensland chief executive officer Mark Townend said the decision to discharge the soldiers was a strong signal to Australians that animal cruelty was unacceptable.


"Normal people don't torture helpless little animals for over an hour," he said. "They tortured young innocent kittens for no reason whatsoever, but for pleasure."


On May 10 in the Townsville Magistrates Court the soldiers pleaded guilty to animal cruelty. They were fined $2000 each, but did not have convictions recorded.


Queensland police last month appealed against the sentences on the ground that the fines were inadequate.


The army's decision to discharge the soldiers follows a review of their formal responses to termination notices.


- AAP

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Guest Anonymous

Wow! I'm glad that they got such stiff punishments. Here that wouldn't have happened they would have been slapped on the wrist and sent about their way.

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