Two tortoises killed in break-in after failed romantic pursuit.

Two tortoises were killed by a 50-year-old married woman in Hong Kong after a relationship with her partner had failed earlier in the year. On 20 October 2021, Hui Or-wai (“Hui”) pleaded guilty at District Court in relation to three separate criminal counts, namely two counts of burglary and one count of cruelty to animals. 

Photo credit: HK01

Hui had requested to become lovers with partner Ip Wai-lam in January 2021. However, she was rejected by Ip, who subsequently started a new relationship. Having found out of Ip’s new relationship, Hui became highly emotional and entered Ip’s home - cutting $18,000 worth of his clothes and breaking the television.

Aside from the damage to property, Hui also killed two of Ip’s tortoises, as she believed the tortoise were symbolic of the love that she and Ip once shared. Hui’s cruelty towards one of the tortoise was so severe that its shell had cracked completely open and had its internal organs spilled.

The Judge, Deputy District Judge Li Chi-ho, considered that the present case differed from ordinary burglary bases, but the financial and psychological damage caused to the victim Ip could not be ignored.

In passing sentence, the Judge took a starting point of 21 months’ imprisonment for the two burglary charges, which was reduced to 14 months’ for a timely guilty plea. On the animal cruelty charge, the Judge held that as there was no long term torture of animals, and due to the remorse shown by the Defendant from her guilty please, she was sentenced to 4 months’ imprisonment, with two of those months’ to be served consecutive to the sentence for burglary.

Unfortunately, this is another prime example of animals being injured and killed as a result of collateral damage during human conflict. Animals are not things. They are neither a bargaining chip nor props to be aimlessly deployed in the midst on an argument. Animals are sentient beings and as such are able to feel and experience emotions - be they positive or negative. It is natural for human beings to feel anger or frustration from time to time, but these emotions do not need to be taken out on innocent animals. As pet owners, we have a responsibility towards our animals to continuously care for their well being as they are fully reliant on us. Our actions and/or inactions have a significant bearing on how an animal lives, and it is of utmost importance that we keep this constantly in mind.

Case No: DCCC 687/2021

Courtesy of Angus Chiu

Main Source: Ming Pao