A 16-year-old boy who had admitted to having drowned a Labrador in Marsaxlokk last July was today condemned to three years probation by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri-Herrera.

The court had heard that the boy was receiving psychiatric help and it had asked a probation officer to draw up a pre-sentencing report.

(At the time of the incident it was also reported that the boy had not been taking his pills)

The probation officer confirmed to the court that the boy had psychiatric problems and was receiving care. The parents also confirmed he had problems.

The probation officer in a report to the court said that - in terms of what the parents themselves had said -  the boy was 'savage and lacks respect' and he worried them a lot. They had also taken him to Caritas after learning that he had dabbled in drugs.

The probation officer confirmed through urine samples that he had taken cocaine.

The boy, however, was not always aware of the consequences of his actions.

In court, the probation officer recommended a suspended sentence and monetary compensation to the owner of the dog.

The owner said the dog was worth €350.

The court ordered payment of €350 to the owner by the boy.

The court also ordered that the boy should continue to have regular contact with Caritas and a psychiatrist and he should take his pills regularly.

The court said it had been proved that the boy drowned the dog. He had claimed that the dog attacked him but there was no evidence for this. Nor was there evidence that the boy acted in a vindictive way.

The court noted that the boy was a rebel who did not appreciate help given to him.

The laws, it said, were there to be observed by everyone. 

However, in view of the condition of the accused and the fact that he was a first-time offender, the court placed him on probation for three years.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110729/local/16-year-old-admits-drowning-dog.377904