A Melbourne teenager who killed a beloved family cat by
hanging it from a bridge has been sentenced to four months in
youth detention.
In sentencing the boy, a children's court magistrate
described the killing of the elderly pet as one of the most
shocking cases he had seen.
Alice the cat was much loved by her 72-year-old owner Edwin
Townsend and held a special place in the hearts of his wife
and grandchildren.
But in April 2008 she was snatched from the front yard of a
home in the outer Melbourne suburb of Craigieburn by two
15-year-old boys.
Alice, aged about 20, was taken to a nearby bridge where one
of the boys tied a rope around her neck.
They held onto the rope before throwing the cat from the
bridge, choking it to death then leaving it hanging.
The magistrate said the killing of the "defenceless family
pet" was one of the most shocking cases he had heard in 20
years on the bench.
"I was outraged, mortified and sickened," he said.
The magistrate said despite a report stating the youth should
not be detained, he owed it to the community to place the
teenager in a youth justice centre.
"This court is entitled to reflect community concern, its
outrage," he said. "It is my view that a youth justice centre
is appropriate."
The youth was ordered to spend four months in a centre.
The magistrate did not jail the second youth, saying he was
genuinely remorseful for the killing.
The boy's lawyer told the court his client cried when he
recounted the incident to a person preparing a sentencing
report.
The magistrate said the boy should be ashamed of his actions
and placed him on six months probation.
Outside court, Mr Townsend said Alice was much loved by his
family, especially his wife and grandchildren.
"The reaction locally was almost like a human being was
killed, friends and neighbours felt very strongly about what
was done," he said.
"You have got to consider that the cat was with us for over
20 years. It had a rope around its neck, it is hard."
