Man sentenced to 6.5 years in prison after fatal wolfdog attack

(ECNS) -- A dog owner in central China's Henan Province was sentenced to six and a half years in prison after his wolfdog mauled a passerby to death, local authorities said on Monday.

The defendant, surnamed Gao, kept three large and aggressive dogs in his doghouse. The tragedy occurred when victim Ma walked past the entrance of the doghouse. One wolfdog suddenly darted from a flimsy cage, which lacked iron mesh at its base and top, and savagely bit Ma's neck and face, causing immediate his death, according to the Higher People's Court of Henan Province on its official WeChat account.

Evidence showed the animals had repeatedly attacked people by pouncing and biting, yet Gao dismissed these incidents as minor issues, taking no preventive measures.

"Due to this negligence, the victim's death occurred, constituting legal culpability under criminal law. The defendant's negligent actions had a direct causal relationship with the fatal outcome," the court said.

The defendant's claim that "the victim was killed by the dog and therefore it was not his responsibility" is untenable, it added.

"Based on the facts, nature, and circumstances of the crime, as well as the degree of harm to society, the court rules that the defendant is guilty of involuntary manslaughter," the court said.

(By Zhang Dongfang)