Queens Man Convicted Of Bludgeoning Cat To Death
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - A Queens man faces up to two years in prison for bludgeoning a stray cat to death.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced Richard Ferrugio of Ozone Park was convicted Monday of aggravated cruelty to animals and fourth-degree weapon possession.
A witness testified that she saw Ferrugio, 51, beating the cat with a tire iron in February 2012.
A second witness told him to stop kicking the cat against a cement wall. Ferrugio replied that he'd do the same thing to her.
Several other people then told him not to kill the cat. He said they'd be next, according to the DA.
"The defendant showed a complete disregard for the life of a helpless animal by violently beating it to death on a public street. Even when passersby asked him to stop, he refused. This is a troubling crime and deserving of significant punishment," Brown said in a statement.
When he was arrested, Ferrugio told police that he got mad because the cat had scratched him.
Ferrugio was convicted following a six-day trial.
His sentencing is July 12.
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