US court tells pet cat he ‘must attend’ jury duty or face consequences
By ANITuesday, January 18, 2011
LONDON - A pet cat in US that was summoned for jury duty has been told by a court that he “must attend”, even though his owner did her best to point out that he is “unable to speak or understand English”.
Owner Anna Esposito had protested that there must be a mistake in her pet cat Sal being called for jury service, but a jury commissioner refused to listen and said that he has to attend the court.
Even a letter from her vet saying that the animal was a “domestic short-haired neutered feline” did not stop the court from ruling that he has to attend, and that if he didn’t he will have to report to Suffolk Superior Crown Court in Boston, U.S. on March 23.
“When they ask him guilty or not guilty? What’s he supposed to say - miaow?” the Daily Mail quoted her as saying.
“Sal is a member of the family so I listed him on the last Census form under pets but there has clearly been a mix-up,” she stated.
Esposito had written Sal’s name under “pets” on the last census, and she had crossed out “dogs” and said he was a cat.
“I said, Sal, what’s this? I was shocked. He likes to sit on my knee and watch crime shows with me but even so he’s still under qualified for jury duty if you ask me,” Esposito’s husband Guy added.
It is thought he accidentally ended up on the juror list when paperwork was misread at the last census. (ANI)
