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Torquay woman 'cooked kitten to death in microwave' Gina Robins cooked kitten to death in microwave
(40 minutes later)
A 10-week-old kitten was "cooked to death" in a microwave, a court heard. A woman who microwaved a 10-week-old kitten to death has been found guilty of causing it unnecessary suffering.
The kitten's owner told Torquay magistrates she heard a loud sound followed by a "horrendous screech". The kitten's owner Sarah Knutton told Torquay Magistrates' Court she heard a sound then a "horrendous screech".
Gina Robins, 31, of Salisbury Avenue, Torquay, Devon, has denied a charge of causing unnecessary suffering. Gina Robins, 31, of Salisbury Avenue, Torquay, had denied the charge, claiming the kitten had been shut in the microwave by other cats.
She said the kitten was shut in the microwave by other cats who had been fighting on the kitchen worktop. The RSPCA said her claim was "implausible". Magistrates heard Robins was angry at Ms Knutton for reporting her boyfriend to police over a separate matter.
It rejected the defendant's explanation that another cat had shut the door and activated the appliance. Robins was released on bail and is due to be sentenced at the court on 14 December.
Prosecutor Iain O'Donnell, for the RSPCA, said: "We say the defendant put the 10-week-old kitten in the microwave and cooked it to death." 'Made it worse'
Claws 'clenched' The RSPCA said the defendant's explanation that another cat had shut the door and activated the appliance was "implausible".
Prior to the incident, on 16 February, the court was told that Ms Robins had sent the kitten's owner, Sarah Knutton, a text message which said reporting a confrontation involving her boyfriend to the police had "made it worse". Prosecutor Iain O'Donnell, for the RSPCA, told the court: "We say the defendant put the 10-week-old kitten in the microwave and cooked it to death."
Ms Knutton, 35, also from Torquay, told magistrates on the day of the incident Ms Robins was at her home with her toddler son and went into the kitchen to heat up his food. Prior to the incident, on 16 February, the court was told that Robins had sent Ms Knutton a text message which said reporting a confrontation involving Robins' boyfriend to the police had "made it worse".
Ms Knutton, 35, also from Torquay, told magistrates that, on the day of the incident, Robins had gone to her home with her toddler son and had gone into the kitchen to heat up his food.
"She was in the kitchen for a couple of minutes and came into the lounge with the bowl of baby food," Ms Knutton told the court."She was in the kitchen for a couple of minutes and came into the lounge with the bowl of baby food," Ms Knutton told the court.
"She was jumpy, really, really different from when she went to the kitchen. She was fidgety, something was wrong. I heard the loud noise... then this horrendous screech, a horrific loud screech." "She was jumpy, really, really different from when she went to the kitchen.
She said when she found the dead kitten she was sick and "felt numb", but Ms Robins made no attempt to comfort her. 'Claws clenched'
"She was fidgety, something was wrong. I heard the loud noise... then this horrendous screech, a horrific loud screech."
She said when she had found the dead kitten she had felt sick and "numb", but Ms Robins made no attempt to comfort her.
Vet Robert Cameron said the kitten "would have suffered prior to death".Vet Robert Cameron said the kitten "would have suffered prior to death".
He said its claws and ears - where there was no fur - were both reddened and its claws were clenched in fear. He said its claws and ears - where there was no fur - were both reddened and its claws had been clenched in fear.
A post-mortem examination concluded that the kitten died from microwave radiation and there were "no other potential causes of death".A post-mortem examination concluded that the kitten died from microwave radiation and there were "no other potential causes of death".
The trial continues.