A CHILD broke down in tears yesterday when she described to a court how a woman killed a kitten by “whacking” it against a fence.
Helen Hare (62), of Pinjarra, was fined $2000 yesterday after being found guilty of the ill treatment of an animal contrary to the Animal Welfare Act when she appeared in Mandurah Magistrate’s Court.
A 12-year-old boy and his 14-year-old sister described how on March 4 they saw Hare, who is their neighbour, pick up their Persian cat and a four-month-old tabby by the tail.
The cats were scratching, hissing and screeching and Hare swung the cats alternatively into a fence.
The 14-year-old broke down in tears as she testified and described how she had heard thuds as the cats hit the fence.
The boy said the adult cat ran away, but the kitten’s neck was snapped, it was twitching and then died.
A police officer read to the court an interview with Hare shortly after the incident in which she told officers the cats kept defecating in her yard.
She said she had warned the family about the cats and did not care if one died.
When police asked Hare if it was her intention to kill the cat, the police report stated Hare said: “Yes, I’ve had a gutful”.
But Hare said police put words in her mouth and denied she admitted to “whacking” the cat.
Hare said she picked up one cat by the tail, threw it over the fence and it ran away.
Hare described ongoing conflict with her neighbours and claimed threats had been made to "torch" her dog.
Magistrate Terence McIntyre said the background of animosity between the neighbours explained why Hare killed the kitten, but it did not excuse it or justify it.
Outside the court, Kylie Brewer said the death of their kitten Candycane had deeply distressed her children.
Another mother said her children, aged four and two, had nightmares after seeing the incident.
Mrs Brewer said her Persian cat now had a permanent limp and it would not allow anyone to touch its tail.