Two teenagers accused of killing 8 swans in Ibaraki lake

Thursday 15th May, 10:17 AM JST

IBARAKI —

Police on Wednesday said that two teenagers had allegedly killed eight swans at a park lake in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, on April 28. According to police, the two boys, aged 15 and 13, beat the swans to death with wooden sticks at the park from 1 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on April 28.

Papers on the 15-year-old boy have been sent to prosecutors, while the 13-year-old boy—who cannot be prosecuted because he is too young—was reported to a child consultation center.

The two were quoted by police as saying, “It was fun to kill the swans, especially when they tried to swim away.”

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Latest 15 of 37 Total Comments Show All

franz75 at 06:49 PM JST - 15th May

eressy: Lets hope the authorities keep close tabs on these little monsters. Since there no serial killers in Japan, this won't be necessary. Don't forget there is many bicycles thefts to take care of.
KaptainKichigai at 06:59 PM JST - 15th May

i wonder how they were caught?
presto345 at 07:48 PM JST - 15th May

Sadistic little jerks who would benefit from 10 years hard labor in Siberia. Adolescence is a tough period in life when many resort to petty crimes that most repent, but this is extremely vicious and a clear example needs to be set that there is no place in society for these misguided sorry creations. Beating the parents is not going to solve the problem, but they do share the responsibility.
nandakandamanda at 07:51 PM JST - 15th May

When I was a kid I killed a tortoise by throwing it against a rock until it split open. In the woods, together with the kid next door. I wanted to know what was inside. He told his parents, and I got the blame. I locked myself in the bathroom to escape my father's wrath, but the maid promised me that if I unlocked the door I wouldn't get beaten. As soon as I opened the door I was grabbed, taken to the bedroom and caned, "in order to learn the sanctity of life". My biggest memory of that day was that adults are liars. The secondary lesson? It took me many years to realize.
GrouchyGaijin at 09:30 PM JST - 15th May

Birds today, people tomorrow.
laconic at 11:13 PM JST - 15th May

As a parent myself I am all for not having to take the blame for what my kids may or may not do, but surely no decent parent would allow a 13 year old to be out alone at 1 a.m.
eresay at 12:24 AM JST - 16th May

nandakandamanda - what was the secondary lesson? Id like to hear you say that you were a sick little dude and you now realize it. I really hope you've outgrown your cruel tendencies.
OssanULTRA at 05:02 AM JST - 16th May

"When I was a kid I killed a tortoise by throwing it against a rock until it split open. In the woods, together with the kid next door. I wanted to know what was inside."

You probably could have avoided punishment had you eaten it afterwards.
Speed at 07:11 AM JST - 16th May

I like the idea of posting pix of the family and the two idiots. Japan used to have a very low crime rate because the "shame" that was brought upon the family was intense from the surrounding neighbors/community. (Of course a good economy and an equitable society helped, too).

These days, no one seems to know each other and there's no sense of community or collective guilt. This is why news like this will continue to grow.

Replacement controls for the loss of feeling "shame" by families/individuals must be implemented by the government/society if a low crime rate is to be maintained.
akuma1985 at 09:48 AM JST - 16th May

hahah persecutor like waste their time. it's no doubt than it's bad but why this story appear in JT?
memyselfI at 04:03 PM JST - 19th May

It`s a beautiful lake. I have been there many times. I think these kids should go to a Slaughter House and watch cows and chickens being killed for human consumption.

KILLING 8 SWANS. Those birds are pretty big. They are not small birds. It must have been ALOT OF blood and feathers all over the place.

Maybe they watched to much Swenney Todd movies

I think they should visit prison and get SCARED STRAIGHT. But many boys like to kill things. I hope they understand it is wrong to take any life away. ANIMAL or HUMAN
capparapha at 07:03 AM JST - 20th May

8 swans, the boys should get 8 beatings each
Zaphod at 03:40 PM JST - 20th May

It is a pretty safe prediction that these kids will be back later with more serious crimes. The pattern, alas, is universal.
dany505 at 07:04 AM JST - 22nd May

boys will be boys . i did some crazy stuff at that age lets not start up a lynch mob just yet...they are kids put the axes and pitch forks away they need spankings is what they need
blvtzpk at 07:17 AM JST - 22nd May

boys will be boys . i did some crazy stuff at that age lets not start up a lynch mob just yet...they are kids put the axes and pitch forks away they need spankings is what they need

So, you went out randomly killing defenseless animals because it was fun? Yeah, a spanking will work out all those issues.