FED: Three soldiers fighting army discharge over kitten torture

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2004
FED: Three soldiers fighting army discharge over kitten torture

Three soldiers kicked out of the Australian army over torturing a litter of kittens
are fighting their discharge.

The trio were among six soldiers from Townsville's Lavarack Barracks fined $2,000 in
May after pleading guilty to animal cruelty offences.

Their actions sparked international condemnation after evidence that one of the three-week-old
kittens was dragged behind a motorcycle before being crushed by a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Three other kittens were doused with fuel and set alight.

The soldiers' actions over the Easter long weekend were investigated by the army's
special investigations branch, and they were discharged.

An Australian Defence Force spokesman has confirmed that three of the men are fighting
their discharge, which will be put on hold, along with that of a fourth man who's undergoing
medical treatment.

He says the other two soldiers have accepted their dismissal.

AAP RTV ch/jmt

KEYWORD: KITTENS (BRISBANE)

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