I’LL KILL IT .. I SWEAR I’LL KILL IT
West Ham’s Zouma admits kicking, slapping pet cats
WEST Ham ace Kurt Zouma has admitted kicking his cat “like a football” and slapping another while his young son held it.
Zouma, 27, was filmed by his younger brother Yoan abusing the animals on February 6 this year.
The pair were charged following an RSPCA investigation after the videos containing laughing emojis went viral on social media.
In one, Kurt can be heard saying: “I’ll kill it... I swear I’ll kill it.”
Kurt pleaded guilty to two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal yesterday when they appeared at Thames magistrates court in Bow, East London.
Yoan, 23, admitted one charge of aiding and abetting.
West Ham fined French star Kurt £250,000 – two weeks’ wages. He was dropped by sponsor Adidas and his solicitor said he suffered racist abuse and death threats online.
Police seized his two Bengal cats on February 9. A vet said they showed no signs of injury but being hit and kicked would have caused “pain and discomfort”. He added: “There can be no justified reason to treat a cat in this manner.”
Hazel Stevens, prosecuting for the RSPCA, told the court the cruelty was “shocking” and “disgusting”.
Footage shows Kurt picking up his cat while a caption reads: “It’s starting.” He then drops the cat and boots it. Another cat runs out of the kitchen. Ms Stevens said: “He kicks the cat and Yoan can be heard laughing.”
Another video shows Kurt taking off his shirt and shouting: “Brap, are you ready?” He chases the cat and throws his shoe at it, then says: “Where is it? Do you want to fight?”
Kurt then got his seven-year-old son to hold one cat while he slapped its head. Ms Stevens told the court the shocked child went to look for the cat while Kurt said: “I will kill it.” Ms Stevens said: “He brought it into the kitchen and kicked it like a football.”
She added there has since been a spate of people filming themselves kicking cats. Both pets will be rehoused.
After the hearing, the RSPCA’s Dermot Murphy said: “What makes this more sad is the way the video was filmed and shared, making light of such cruelty.” Edie Bowles, of legal firm Advocates for Animals, said: “The hope is others will see this as a warning that cruelty will not be tolerated.”
Sentencing will be on June 1.