A soldier (58) and a civilian (57) shot a badger seven times in a barracks in Salzburg. The animal had to suffer all night before the soldier killed it with an iron bar. The duo took responsibility in court on Friday. Both must now care for animals for 120 hours, the judge ruled.
The two men sheepishly appeared before the Salzburg regional court on Friday. Both protested that they only wanted to redeem the animal. On August 23, 2022, the badger fell into a two-meter-deep concrete pit in the Krobatinkaserne in St. Johann (Pongau/Salzburg). The soldier involved called an acquaintance for help, disregarding the reporting procedure. The man is a hunter, but not responsible for the barracks area. General: Hunting is not allowed in a barracks.
After the hunter failed to hit the animal properly several times, the soldier himself pulled the trigger. The men shot the animal a total of seven times with a small-bore rifle. Then they left it in the pit. Presumably presumed dead, but video from a witness shows the badly injured animal still running around in the pit after the shots were fired. The next day the soldier climbed into the pit and killed the animal with an iron bar.
Doubt whether the animal was injured at all
“The tie looks very cheerful in the first photos. Maybe a little exhausted,” the judge doubted whether the badger should have been killed at all. Three witnesses would have assessed the situation in the same way. “Apparently the final blow, which failed with seven shots, was not necessary,” concluded the chairman.
Defendants lamented the suffering of the animal
“I’m sorry. None of this was done on purpose. There was no intent involved. It was a terrible accident,” the formerly impeccable NCO said. The hunter said, “I wanted to put the animal out of pain. It was a big mistake that that happened.”
Judge sentences men to animal care
The men now have to perform 120 hours of community service in animal care. In return, the court waived a conviction. The public prosecutor filed a complaint against the diversion procedure.
The soldier was sentenced months ago by the army to a fine of 400 euros. However, the disciplinary punishment imposed does not refer to the torture itself. “The reason is the introduction of a weapon into the barracks and ignoring the reporting route,” said Major Rene Auer of the military command “Krone” when asked. The hunter is threatened with further problems: a court of honor is pending against him at the Salzburg Hunters’ Association.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
