Imprisonment of 5 years and 4 months but also a fine of 25,000 euros imposed by the Kilkis Joint Jury on a 27-year-old who was found guilty of violent death which caused in August 2021 to a stray dog, in Koufalia, Thessaloniki, when he stabbed it with repeated blows, while the unfortunate animal was – additionally – attacked by the defendant’s pit bull.

The defendant was found guilty by a marginal majority – among other things – for killing a companion animal, while the court decided to release him pending appeal on the condition that he does not own a companion animal.

The brutal incident was caught on camera and reported by members of an animal welfare organization who appeared at the trial in support of the charge. A felony charge had been brought against the young man, with the result that the case reached the audience of the criminal court.

In his plea, the 27-year-old denied the charge, claiming that he was in self-defense and that his dog was attacked by the unfortunate animal when he took it out for a walk.