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WITNESS TO SICKENING ATTACK ON FAWN SPEAKS TO THE ECHO

8:30am Saturday 13th June 2009


A DOG walker who witnessed three youths repeatedly stamping on a baby deer has spoken of his horror at the attack, which killed the animal.

Construction worker, Keith Arthurs, 51, dialled 999 after a walk through Upton Country Park at about 5pm on Wednesday (June 10) made him an eyewitness to the brutal killing of the fawn.

News of the attack broke on this website on Thursday, and the Echo has been inundated with pledges of donations to a police reward fund from readers across the country.

“Three youths were in a field facing towards me from about 30 metres. One of them picked up the animal for no reason at all, and I got the impression they were going to harm it. That’s when I dialled 999.

“He hit the animal over the head and dropped it to the floor. Then they all took it in turns to repeatedly stamp on it. This went on for the best part of a couple of minutes.

“I’ve witnessed some things in my life, but nothing as horrific as that,” said Mr Arthurs.

The dog walker said he had done what anyone else would have in reporting the attack and urged anyone with information to contact the police.

“We’re supposed to be a nation of animal lovers. Surely someone knows something. The police said they will probably brag about it to their friends.

“If anyone can come up with any information they should contact the police, even if they give the information anonymously,” said Mr Arthurs.

PC John Snellin, Dorset Police’s wildlife officer, is leading the investigation and said information and offers of support were flooding in.

“We have had first names, surnames, and nicknames given to us of those alleged to have been involved in the attack.

"And we have also been contacted by scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) who have offered to examine the carcass for DNA traces, free of charge," said PC Snellin.

Three white males, thought to be aged in their mid-teens, with short black hair, and dressed in tracksuit trousers and hooded tops are being sought by police in connection with the attack.

• Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 01202 222222, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers Service on 0800 555 111, where mobile phone tariffs may apply.

• Readers wishing to donate to a Dorset Police reward fund should call 01202 222222, and quote incident reference I/10/377.


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Your Say YourEcho

poolebabe, poole says...
4:50pm Fri 12 Jun 09

This is good. Keep it high profile and the little yob will be caught. I hope they are scared, they should be! They might have thought it was funny, but they will be laughing on the other side of their faces. Someone will dob them in for sure! Get their DNA to make sure! They won't be able to get out of it!

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larraine1, swanage says...
5:30pm Fri 12 Jun 09

I was absolutely horrified to hear this dreadful story. They are such cowards, if they are want a fight they should get into a boxing ring and hit someone of equal strength and someone who has a chance to fight back. I don't know how people like this sleep at night

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pipistrollers, Bournemouth says...
5:31pm Fri 12 Jun 09

Before we make our post we would ask that people do not take it the wrong way.

We say that anyone who knows who these f***wits are should tell the police anyway!

We were wondering how the public can be kept updated where the reward is concerned. We just thought that if enough money was donated and it was known what that amount is, then it might give further encouragement to anyone who can tell the police who these half wits are.

To anyone who knows who did this to the fawn PLEASE tell the police. If they can do that to a fawn they could do it to YOUR children too. Please keep that in mind.


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alumchineboy2, alumchine says...
5:56pm Fri 12 Jun 09

If I was that guy he should have grabbed at least one of the low life

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pipistrollers, Bournemouth says...
6:29pm Fri 12 Jun 09

alumchineboy it's easy for people to say that but when there are 2 of them out for attack, who knows if they had weapons.

If you watch the news you will have seen that people have been murdered simply for approaching halfwits such as these. One was a man who asked them to be a little quieter as his baby was trying to sleep. The result of this was that he was murdered.

We think it was great that Mr Arthurs kept his head and called the police immediately and even though the attack was taking place, he was still able to give a description. Well done!!

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KLH, bournemouth says...
6:31pm Fri 12 Jun 09

Those nutcs are probably reading this revelling in their notoriety - if the can read that is, whic I very much doubt. This is imperative we wipe the smug grins off their faces. Personally I'd like to ram their teeth so far down their throat they'd have to stick their toothbrushes up their **** to clean them.

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Gonelocal, Hants/Dorset says...
6:31pm Fri 12 Jun 09

Words fail me to describe this sick attack on a young fawn. There's no Deterrent for sickos like this... bring back the birch . give them a few lashings when the find the culprits.. may deter others too !!

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Was Charlie, says...
6:47pm Fri 12 Jun 09

The parents must know who they are. You brought them up, so you're responsible for the moral values they don't have. Do the right thing and turn your mentally ill offspring into the police and show you can do something right.

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4FCB, Ferndown says...
7:08pm Fri 12 Jun 09

As far as i'm concerned, this is murder. The act of deliberately taking a life. They deserve what is coming to them. I have also donated to the reward fund and I urge others to do so.

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richw, Bournemouth says...
7:43pm Fri 12 Jun 09

The sad thing is they have now qualified for a scuba-diving holiday in the Red Sea courtesy of the local idiots we refer to as 'magistrates'. I am sure, if caught, the little b*g**r* will be 'full of remorse' and be laughing all the way to their flight.

This Country will never be a safe place to live in, human or animal, until the judiciary, from the top to the bottom, get a grip.

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anna007, Queens Park says...
8:03pm Fri 12 Jun 09

Was Charlie wrote:
The parents must know who they are. You brought them up, so you're responsible for the moral values they don't have. Do the right thing and turn your mentally ill offspring into the police and show you can do something right.
The problem being the parents are just as bad as their kids and they're so wrapped up in their own selfish lives they don't care what their offspring have done.Probably only had kids to claim more benefit money!

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Bentham2009, Ringwood says...
10:07pm Fri 12 Jun 09

Unfortunately even if these thugs are caught they will most probably only come away with a Final Warning - a simple slap on the wrist in which they are not compelled to engage with the local youth offending team. However, you can't blame the police or the YOT. The policy makers and CPS decide what is worth pursuing in court and until they decide that this behaviour warrants severe sanctions then there will be no real deterrent for these feral kids (and their feckless parents for that matter). Its worth noting the research that points to relationship between violence to animals in childhood and later violence towards people (McPhedran, 2009). So deal with it now or it will come back to haunt us in the future! In the meantime I hope there is some community justice for these young people...

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sea poole, poole says...
11:40pm Fri 12 Jun 09

The problem is we'll never know these low lifes' identities if caught. They are described as 'mid-teens' so have anonymity to protect them. A pity the fawn had noone to protect it.

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pipistrollers, Bournemouth says...
11:59pm Fri 12 Jun 09

Hmmm you have a point there about the protection of their identities. We can only hope that if someone does tell the police who they are, that they perhaps let the names slip when they can then be circulated

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IanfrommorethanAV, Crawley says...
6:48am Sat 13 Jun 09

There is something that we can all do through these pages and forums, through our MP's and the Police to show our outrage and determination for these cruel evil cowards to be caught and punished. The reward for identifying them is high - I have donated £250 - and I will be there to show my bitter disgust and abhorrence at what they have done should this make it to Court. We can all do what we can to keep this high-profile, email the BBC, support your local animal charities, tell others, let these inadequate wimps worry that it is only a matter of time before they get what is coming to them, either in a Court or elsewhere. I would trust that my pledge, if identification is not immediate, can be put towards the costs of flying the torso of the Fawn to LA for DNA analysis and I am quite certain that justice will catch up with them.
Get involved, whatever you can do to keep this on peoples minds and in the press will be worth it. Cowards like this prey on the weak and vulnerable, they hunt in packs, and it is only a matter of time before they commit another heinous act and can be associated with this sickening brutality.

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alumchineboy2, alumchine says...
7:55am Sat 13 Jun 09

I cant believe Dorset Police - they have treated as a minor incident to be investigated by the local PC . Its been reported on national news that he's now off duty for a few days......Jesus, isn't there anyone else capable of acting on information that has come in or able to do anything about this ?
If they dont end up catching nc convicting these kids then they cant exactly say that they did everything possible to try and find them. This is such a serious matter to local people it should be treated as a priority crime. The other thing is thats its a real example of our society today and if its just been left as 'yet another' crime' then the Police will come out of this in a very bad light.

Could we have a update on the investigation asap please.

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gshock225, littledown says...
8:13am Sat 13 Jun 09

pipistrollers wrote:
alumchineboy it's easy for people to say that but when there are 2 of them out for attack, who knows if they had weapons. If you watch the news you will have seen that people have been murdered simply for approaching halfwits such as these. One was a man who asked them to be a little quieter as his baby was trying to sleep. The result of this was that he was murdered. We think it was great that Mr Arthurs kept his head and called the police immediately and even though the attack was taking place, he was still able to give a description. Well done!!
Im sorry but if I had seen the incident I would of intervened......peop
le have to make a stand against these mindless idiots.

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IanfrommorethanAV, Crawley says...
8:35am Sat 13 Jun 09

alumchineboy2 wrote:
I cant believe Dorset Police - they have treated as a minor incident to be investigated by the local PC . Its been reported on national news that he's now off duty for a few days......Jesus, isn't there anyone else capable of acting on information that has come in or able to do anything about this ?
If they dont end up catching nc convicting these kids then they cant exactly say that they did everything possible to try and find them. This is such a serious matter to local people it should be treated as a priority crime. The other thing is thats its a real example of our society today and if its just been left as 'yet another' crime' then the Police will come out of this in a very bad light.

Could we have a update on the investigation asap please.
I can't comment on the accuracy of this but just to confirm I got a call from John Snellin yesterday and he was on the case, so am unsure who the local PC is to whom you refer. The Police need a hand here, it is up to communities, families and friends to root out these gutless creeps...... even yesterday there were some interesting leads so hopefully results soon.

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Injusticesucks, FERNDOWN says...
10:03am Sat 13 Jun 09

I feel physically SICK with anger & pure hatred towards the 'perverted things'that only have power over something (or someone) so defenceless, it cant fight back!
It is stupid to say these pieces of thick s**t should be 'birched' or 'put in 'stocks'. This is 2009 not 1809-Find them, identify & publish their names, PUNISH them properly (for once),& if someone happens to come accross them in the street-well so be it! They do NOT need help-they need to treating in a way even they, with their extremely limited I.Q's, can understand!

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ben111, Ringwood says...
11:42am Sat 13 Jun 09

Please Please Please . never let this story drop until they are found . and then i can put my Stamping boots on

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gilera7, SPAIN says...
12:02pm Sat 13 Jun 09

When these morons are arrested i would like to see the dimwit parents punished as i cannot believe they do not know what their idiot children get up to. I would also like their background published ie. what class of people are they, working CHT,working class or upper class. Its high time we nailed down this problem.

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Chris..., says...
12:03pm Sat 13 Jun 09

To the three thugs who killed the defenceless baby deer, your time of freedom is getting shorter. The hand of the law looms over you.

Thugs who kill deer, thugs who kill reptiles, birds and flora by fire, thugs who rob, thugs who attack people. What is this society coming to.

Certain remedies spring to mind

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ben111, Ringwood says...
12:08pm Sat 13 Jun 09

gilera7 wrote:
When these morons are arrested i would like to see the dimwit parents punished as i cannot believe they do not know what their idiot children get up to. I would also like their background published ie. what class of people are they, working CHT,working class or upper class. Its high time we nailed down this problem.
I do understand where you are coming from , But class is not necessarily the root cause . At the end of the day we all know the basics of what is right and wrong

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telbells, hamworthy says...
1:10pm Sat 13 Jun 09

These Yobs are the scum of the earth total mindless idiots hope they are not able to walk the streets for much longer or next it could be a human on the receiving end of their mindless nature.

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magura, poole says...
12:08am Sun 14 Jun 09

This terrible act by these low life things has at least done one thing its brought the local and national communities together as one voicing there outrage .these things must be turned in they are local to upton park area there has been a good description of them so Please somebody turn them in yes there is a reward but that is secondary in this case we are all united here GET THEM and when they appear in court i hope we dont hear the old chestnutOh they come from broken homes , there unemployed ,theres nothing for them to do ,there sorry . Yea they will be if the right judge is on duty Please Bmth echo do not let this story out of your newspapers until the Things are apprehended Thank you

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Jonxyz, Holywood says...
7:46pm Sun 14 Jun 09

Really stomach churning story. I hope the trash that did this get caught asap and get what they deserve in prison. Utter scum.

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fbmagik, Bournemouth says...
8:55pm Sun 14 Jun 09

I hope these people when caught will not get the usual slap on the wrist. I hope they get a full and worthwhile punishment. If everyone here is that passionate about it, it is important. It's a pitty that the general public don't have that much power, taking things into our own hands will only get us into trouble. Good law system? Of course not. These people (scum) aren't scared of the law, they arent scared of the slap on the wrist nature of our law system. I think its time for a change, whoever decides these things. Make these criminals scared of the concequences, then we will see change

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harriet.ox@live.com, Boscombe says...
2:50pm Mon 15 Jun 09

This is so sickening but people dont blame all the teenagers,, we are not all the same , im 15 and always gget blammed for stuff WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME !

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hemlock, Wimborne, Dorset says...
10:48am Thu 18 Jun 09

harriet.ox@live.com wrote:
This is so sickening but people dont blame all the teenagers,, we are not all the same , im 15 and always gget blammed for stuff WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME !
Sorry but in this day and age it is not a case of being innocent until proven guilty but Guilty until proven innocent. This is not just for people your age but for everyone.

We need to bring back National Service

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Comments are closed on this article.

WITNESS TO ATTACK: Keith Arthurs WITNESS TO ATTACK: Keith Arthurs


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