Sliema cat killer compares cats to 'gold-digging women'

A man who admitted to killing cats in Sliema compared cats to “gold-digging" women during his interrogation.

Okamura Satoshi appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon when the prosecution and the defence made their final submissions in the case.

During submissions on punishment, police inspector Elliot Magro said that while Satoshi claimed he would act violently if cats scratched or bit him, footage gathered by police shows him grabbing a cat by its tail while asleep.

He then referred to the accused’s statement to the police, in which Satoshi reportedly compared cats to “women gold diggers”.

“The cats are like females that only pleasure the man if he has money. The cats do the same while he has food,” Satoshi reportedly told the police during his interrogation. Magro highlighted that the version of events and the accused’s reasoning were also untrue.

In August, Satoshi admitted harming and killing animals and causing animals to suffer from unnecessary pain and suffering. He also admitted to slightly injuring two police officers during his arraignment.

In a previous sitting, a probation officer told the court that Satoshi blamed the attacks on his violent upbringing. The man reportedly told his probation officers that he would react violently if cats scratched or bit him or did not give him attention.

The man claimed his violent outbursts were due to his upbringing and the "intense" verbal abuse he sustained from his father.

On Tuesday, defence lawyer Adreana Zammit cross-examined Satoshi’s probation officer Matthew Fleri Soler, who included in his pre-sentencing report claims by Satoshi that he injured the arresting officers in self-defence, claiming the officers failed to identify themselves when apprehending him and leading him to believe he was being "attacked".

Zammit asked Fleri Soler whether he had taken those claims to the arresting officers. He said he had not done so.

Abusive upbringing claims

The defence requested that a psychiatrist expert be appointed to examine the accused due to indications of psychological issues, in a bid to ascertain whether he was medically fit to continue to stand trial. The court observed that this could be part of their submissions.

In his interrogation, Satoshi denied having any issues with his parents, and it was only in the last meeting that he claimed issues with his father. The probation officer said that Satoshi’s mother confirmed that her son suffered abuse at the hands of his father as a child in an email she sent to him.

The prosecuting inspector questioned why Satoshi had not brought this up earlier. He added that there was no verification that the person who sent the emails to the police was, in reality, his mother.

In court, it transpired that Satoshi’s working permit had been terminated, and he would be deported after completing his sentence.

Sentencing requests

Magro requested a two-year effective prison term and said the man should be given any treatment needed.

Zammit countered that the pre-sentencing report from the probation officer and the man’s interrogation highlighted the need for Satoshi to get professional health.

While acknowledging the prosecution’s frustration that certain details came late in the day, Zammit observed that the accused only hire a lawyer before the fourth and final meeting with the probation officer. She explained he had difficulty expressing himself.

She argued that no prison time would help him overcome his problem. The defence lawyer observed that penalties for charges under the Animal Welfare Act are punishable by up to a maximum of three years. She argued there was no distinction between a first-time and a second-time offender.

The defence lawyer asked for a suspended sentence, a fine and a treatment order.

“He needs treatment,” she insisted, adding that prison will not improve the situation.

Attacks on five cats

In July, a member of the Facebook group ‘Malta Pet Adoption Group’ reported that five stray cats had been found in Sliema, dead or injured, and mutilated.

CCTV footage obtained by Times of Malta shows a man violently slamming a cat to the ground in the early hours of the morning.

Following his arraignment, the Japanese community in Malta raised over €12,000 for animal welfare organisations.

Magistrate Nadine Sant Lia presided.

Police inspectors Jeffrey Scicluna Briffa and Elliot Magro prosecuted. Lawyers Marion Camilleri and Adreana Zammit are appearing for the accused.