A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to one year in prison for the killing of three pregnant reindeer in Kullaskogen near Umeå, Sweden. According to the Swedish Veterinary Medical Institute, the reindeer died from blunt force trauma and cutting injuries to the neck. The incident occurred in February of last year when the three reindeer were hit by a car and subsequently had their throats cut.
All three animals were pregnant at the time of their deaths. The man was charged in November with aggravated animal cruelty and vandalism. During the trial, the man claimed the incident was an accident, stating he was in shock and did not call the police.
the incident was an accident, stating he was in shock and did not call the police
The case gained significant attention after a video showing the reindeer suffering after being hit was published on social media. In addition to the prison sentence, the man must pay damages of approximately 48,000 kronor. During the investigation, four people were initially suspected, but three were cleared as they could not be linked to the alleged crimes.