BREAKING NEWS

Idaho man sentenced to seven years for killing zoo monkey

By REUTERS

MAY 17, 2013 03:55

An Idaho man who admitted to breaking into a Boise zoo last year and killing a monkey was sentenced to seven years in prison on Thursday, court records show.

Michael Watkins, 22, of Weiser, Idaho, in March pleaded guilty to attempted grand theft, a felony, and misdemeanor animal cruelty stemming from the break-in and beating death of the monkey at Zoo Boise in November.

The primate was one of the zoo's two Patas monkeys, ground-dwelling animals from Africa that stand more than 2 feet tall and weigh about 35 pounds. They are rare in zoos but not endangered in the wild.

The case shook officials at the zoo and triggered an outpouring of sympathy and donations from animal lovers worldwide.

Watkins scaled the security fence at Zoo Boise in the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 17 and attempted to steal the monkey, which bit him, police said. Watkins then kicked and hit the animal, severely wounding it, according to police. The monkey later died of blunt force trauma, zoo officials said.

Germany charges six suspected ISIS-K members over attack plots

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 03:55 PM

UK police arrest three over migrants' deaths in Channel

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 03:43 PM

Russia says its forces hit Ukrainian drone production facility

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 03:19 PM

Russia to push Ukraine further back if Kyiv gets long range US missiles

By REUTERS

04/24/2024 02:48 PM