Trio charged:

27 cats locked in attic without food

Two of the defendants were present in court, the third was absent due to illness.(Bild: Pressefoto Scharinger © Daniel Scharinger, Krone KREATIV)

A trio is facing terrible charges in court: Two men (60 and 71 years old) and a woman (72) allegedly kept dogs and cats in Gilgenberg (Upper Austria) under torturous conditions despite an existing official ban on keeping animals.

The animals are said to have been given neither food nor water. 27 dehydrated cats were locked up in a heavily overcooked attic without heating and several dogs were kept in containers and stables in sub-zero temperatures. The consequences, according to the indictment: parasite infestation, matting and ear and eye infections.

Three defendants, one verdict
Despite the three defendants, there was only one verdict at Ried Regional Court on Monday: the 72-year-old was sentenced - not legally binding - to six months' conditional imprisonment and a fine for cruelty to animals.

The 71-year-old was unable to appear in court for health reasons. And in the case of the third defendant, the 60-year-old, doubts arose during the trial about his sanity at the time of the crime - which is why a neurological-psychiatric report was commissioned.