There are few things more distressing than the defenceless having brutal and merciless violence brought upon them.
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So news of the actions of Kurri Kurri man Nathan Thompson has rightly drawn fierce condemnation from across Australia in recent days.
Thompson has pleaded guilty to acts of animal cruelty so severe, that RSPCA investigators have said they were among the worst they have seen.
The 25-year-old bludgeoned nine puppies to death with a rock on Wednesday and threw their bodies into the bush after an associate asked him to “get rid of them”.
The reaction to the news on social media has reflected the almost unparalleled shock and disgust within the community.
The moderator of the Mercury’s Facebook page had to remove some comments, which bordered on inciting violence against Thompson.
There is no doubt that the actions of Thompson are abhorrent, almost beyond words.
The Mercury believes that anybody who would treat innocent and defenceless animals with such merciless violence has no place in a civilised society.
But as members of a civilised society, the rest of us need to let the court do its job and allow due process to take place.
The measure against Thompson taken on Friday, that he cannot own, possess or be alone in a room with an animal for a decade, is only a condition of his bail and not his full punishment.
Having pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty, serious animal cruelty and resisting arrest, he still faces a possible maximum sentence of five years in jail when sentenced.
So while this case has stirred terrible emotions in many of us, the answer is not to take matters into our own hands.
