Chook killer is lucky to avoid cage
A BAD egg who stole a childcare centre’s pet chicken from a cage and killed it, almost ended up in a cage himself.
Kyle Reece Warne, 19, was drinking with friends next door to the Community Kids Early Education Centre in Coomera on September 28 last year when he jumped the fence and took the black chicken from its cage.
While he was jumping the fence to flee the childcare centre, Warne claims he fell and landed on the bird, injuring it.
A security guard heard the sound of a chicken in pain and then saw Warne fatally stomping on the bird and kicking it.
In the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday Warne pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty and trespass.
Prosecutor Bob Falconer said Warne killed the chicken in the most inhumane way so it died slowly and in pain.
“The chicken was just a normal chicken – not what you could call a prized hen as such – but nonetheless a pet who was a most dearly loved chicken by children at that institution,” he said.
Mr Falconer said he was seeking $600 in restitution to pay for damage to the centre.
Solicitor Joe Wicking, from Moloney MacCallum Lawyers, said his client was intoxicated.
“Unfortunately, while he was going back over the fence he has fallen, causing the chicken some injury,” he said.
“He made a very stupid decision to essentially euthanise the chicken through his own means.
“It was a foolish decision made ultimately as a result of intoxication.”
Mr Wicking tendered references that suggested Warne was a caring person who did not show any malice towards animals.
“He is a person who is of otherwise good character and this does appear to be an aberration in terms of that character.”
Magistrate Kerry Magee said regardless of the motivation, Warne’s actions were callous, cruel and inhumane.
Ms Magee sentenced Warne to six months in jail, suspended for 18 months. He was also placed on a probation order and fined $100.