"Killing Cats Relieved My Stress"—Man in His 30s Receives Suspended Sentence for Brutally Killing Stray Cats in Ulsan

[Financial News] A man in his 30s who captured and brutally killed four stray cats without any particular reason was sentenced to a suspended prison term.
According to legal sources on the 9th, the Ulsan District Court's Criminal Division 8, presided over by Judge Kim Jeong-jin, sentenced a man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, to six months in prison, suspended for two years, after convicting him of violating the Animal Protection Act.
The court also ordered Mr. A to complete 200 hours of community service and 40 hours of educational programs on preventing animal abuse.
Mr. A was accused of setting up a trap near his residence in Nam-gu, Ulsan, from early February through late March this year, capturing and killing four stray cats. Investigators found that he took the cats home and killed them by repeatedly slamming them onto the bathroom floor by their legs or tails, or by forcing them to ingest bleach.
After the killings, he reportedly posted messages in open chat rooms and elsewhere to the effect that "killing cats relieved his stress."
The crimes came to light after an animal-protection group that received related information reported them to police.
The court explained its sentencing, stating, "The defendant captured the cats and killed them in cruel ways, making the nature of the crimes grave. However, we took into consideration that he admitted his wrongdoing and showed remorse, as well as the fact that he had no prior criminal record."
[email protected] Seong Min-seo Reporter