A 23-year-old man is on trial for killing five horses and mutilating a dozen others. In court, he spoke of "impulses and voices" without convincing evidence.

A five-year prison sentence, two of which are suspended, was requested Friday for a 23-year-old man on trial in Le Havre for killing five horses and seriously injuring ten others between May and August in Normandy.

The prosecution requested that the defendant, prosecuted for "serious abuse or acts of cruelty" to a domestic animal, whether or not resulting in death, and possession of category D weapons, be ordered to undergo psychiatric care and be prohibited from owning an animal or a weapon.

His ex-partner's horse among the victims

Between May and August, he is accused of injuring horses with deep lacerations, in some cases gouging out eyes, and blows causing fractures, in meadows and stables in Seine-Maritime in the middle of the night. Five died as a result, either immediately or by euthanasia in the case of one of them, given the severity of his injuries.

The suspect, who had already been convicted of a knife attack at the age of 16, was identified based on traces of human blood found at the scene of the latest attack. The searches resulted in the seizure of a blood-stained box cutter, a mallet, and horse biscuits. He was remanded in custody on August 4.

The defendant, who has no particular connection to equines, reported "impulses" and said he "heard voices" during the hearing. Two psychiatric assessments, however, concluded that there was no loss or impairment of discernment. "He is waving the banner of protecting the need for care" and "hiding behind psychiatric pathology," said prosecutor Sophie O'Hana.

"He is sick and dangerous, he could attack a fellow inmate or a guard."

Defense attorney

For her part, defence lawyer Valérie Giard insisted that she was "convinced that he was ill, that he was dangerous, that he might attack a fellow inmate or a guard", pleading for the abolition or impairment of discernment and for acquittal.

Around ten owners, including his ex-partner, as well as several associations including 30 Million Friends and the Stéphane Lamart animal rights association, have joined the case as civil parties.

Outside the courthouse, around fifty people demonstrated with placards demanding "five years in prison," the maximum sentence, an AFP correspondent noted.