Following an alleged dispute with his neighbour, a man was found guilty in China and given a prison sentence for killing over 1,000 hens by frightening them, according to CNN.
The man, who was only known by his last name Gu, was given a prison term after repeatedly breaking into his neighbour Zhong's farm.
He brought a flashlight when he broke into Zhong's farm and startled the hens. In their panic, they rushed toward a corner, and many perished in the subsequent crush.
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He allegedly killed 500 hens in the first instance, for which he was made to pay 3,000 yuan ($436) in damages.
In the second instance, he scared 640 hens into a corner of their enclosure, where they trampled each other, resulting in their deaths.
According to reports, a dispute between the two neighbours started in April 2022 when Zhong illegally cut down several of Gu's trees and took them away.
The People's Court of Hengyang, which is in the Hunan province of China, determined that Gu knowingly caused his neighbor's "property loss."
He allegedly killed 500 hens in the first instance, for which he was made to pay 3,000 yuan ($436) in damages.
In the second instance, he scared 640 hens into a corner of their enclosure, where they trampled each other, resulting in their deaths.
The approximate 1,100 deceased hens were valued at a total of 13,840 yuan ($2,015). China Daily claims that after being made to pay a fine for the first incident, Gu harboured more animosity toward his neighbour. Gu will be sentenced to six months in jail and then one year of probation.He showed regret for the episodes; therefore the judge reduced his punishment.
