Criminal law. Animal welfare. Illegal destruction method.

Supreme Court judgment 28 August 2019, HR-2019-1645-A, (case no. 19-59656STR-HRET), criminal case, appeal against judgment

A (Counsel Steinar Jacob Thomassen) v. The Public Prosecution Authority (Counsel Vibeke Gjøslien Martins)

Justices: Endresen, Bull, Falch, Høgetveit Berg, Thyness

A man had killed two cats by breaking their necks with his hands, in violation of section 37 subsection 1, cf. section 12, of the Animals Welfare Act, cf. section 2 of Regulations on the destruction of dogs and cats. The Supreme Court sentenced the man to 45 days of imprisonment. The offence was not considered gross. The motivation for killing the cats could not be included in this assessment. There was no basis for reducing the sentence due to the defendant's personal affairs, but a credit was granted for his admission of the factual circumstances.