Suspect in cat killing released from pre-trial detention

A 35-year-old man suspected of killing his cat in Rechnitz has been released from pre-trial detention because authorities no longer considered him at risk of reoffending, ORF reported, citing the Eisenstadt public prosecutor’s office.

The man allegedly killed the cat with a pipe wrench in Rechnitz, in the Oberwart district, then tried to cut off its head with a spade. He recorded the acts in videos and photos before burying the animal on a manure pile in his garden. He told police the cat had scratched him.

Police arrested him after two people alerted them, and officers seized the alleged weapon. He spent about 10 days in pre-trial detention after being taken into custody in mid-September.

The investigation is ongoing. A personality assessment has been commissioned, and prosecutors will decide whether to bring charges once inquiries are complete.