France: Student put live mouse in his mouth, chewed it and killed it

The news causes horror – Two students “got” fine because one ate one alive, the second because he videotaped the scene and posted the footage on social media in 2023. Luke B., who at the time was a student in the second year of technical school in France, was the one who put the mouse in his mouth and chewed it, until he killed it. The Marseille court fined him 1,500 euros, while his fellow student, Cedric B., was fined 1,000 euros. CORVERSE Both sentences have a restraining effect. Students were also sentenced to pay symbolic compensation of EUR 1 to organisations that had appealed to them, such as the 30 million Friends Foundation and the Animal Protection Society, who sought compensation of many thousands of euros. Their sentences will not be recorded in their criminal record. ADVERSE “We will not appeal,” said Luke B.’s lawyer, Celine Dangotier. Another student, accused of uploading the footage on Instagram, was cleared. Prosecutor Marie-Od Fice had asked all three to be sentenced to social work –105 hours for the main accused – on the charge of animal abuse. “This decision is a disgrace, gives permission to kill” the animals, commented Xavier Bake, who represented the 30 Million Friends Foundation, arguing that the message sent by the court was that those who abuse the animals will not be punished.