'Cat killer' trial: 'CCTV shows moment cat is attacked'

Steve Bouquet was arrested following a major police investigation and stands accused of stabbing nine cats to death and injuring another seven.

Police made a breakthrough in the case when CCTV picked up Mr Bouquet interacting with a cat called Hendrix, the jury was told.

More from the trial:

• 'Knife found with cat blood at defendant's home'
• Steve Bouquet stumped police, court told
• 'I picked Tommy up and blood was on my t-shirt' 

Rowan Jenkins for the Crown told the jury: "In the early evening of 31st May 2019, Stewart Montgomery and his partner Agatha Altwegg were at home in Brighton.

"At around 7.50pm their nine month old black shorthair with white chest patch called Hendrix, came running in.

"At first Miss Altweg thought nothing of it, but she then saw blood where he had been sitting and when she looked closer she found he was bleeding heavily."

Hendrix could not be saved and the vet who treated him said she had never seen a case like it, Mr Jenkins said.

"In her opinion, this was, in fact, a single wound with a blade penetrating from the left side through to the right - driven straight through."

Speaking of the CCTV, Mr Jenkins said: "He appears to show affection to the cat by stroking it.

"Facing sideways, he seems to take something from his rucksack.

"As the cat lies down in front of him, you will see there is then a sudden jerk from the defendant’s arm.

"This is the moment we say when the defendant stabs Hendrix with some force. Immediately, he reacts by getting to his feet and fleeing to his home.

"The defendant is seen to rearrange his rucksack and continues to walk North," Mr Jenkins said.

A mobile phone expert will give evidence about movements of the defendant recorded by the handset which match up to the dates and times of the attacks, Mr Jenkins said.

"Sometimes owners, or those caring for them whilst owners were away, found their cats still alive and were able to take timely action to try to save them by rushing them to their vets.

"Not all were able to find them in time."

Vets in Brighton were presented with wounded cats, Mr Jenkins said.

"Some found themselves dealing with more than one case.

"These were penetrating and clean wounds which, in the considered opinion of the vets, were caused by a sharp instrument such as a knife.

"Someone was deliberately inflicting these injuries.

"They were not minor.

"Despite their best efforts, many of the animals could not be saved."

Bouquet, 54, of Rose Hill Terrace, denies 16 counts of criminal damage in relation to cats and one count of possession of a knife.

The trial continues.