Kitten killer sentenced to jail

NEW BEDFORD, R.I. (WPRI) - The New Bedford man who killed a 3-month-old kitten by throwing it down the stairs in a jealous rage is going to jail.

Luis Alvarez, 31, pleaded guilty in New Bedford District Court Wednesday to one count of animal cruelty. He was also initially charged with assault and battery because his wife said Alvarez tried to strangle her. However, Prosecutors dropped that charge.

"It's an extreme act of cruelty and atrocity. Luckily, we were able to intercede before his rage further manifested itself against his wife," said New Bedford Police Lt. Jeffrey P. Silva, shortly after Alvarez was arrested.

Prosecutors said Alvarez killed his wife's kitten, Tigi, because he was upset she treated the animal better than she treated him.

He threw the cat down a flight of stairs at the couple's Tallman St. home. The kitten died instantly from multiple skull fractures.

At the time of the crime, neighbors said they were outraged.

"You shouldn't do that to an animal. It's like doing that to a human being," said Antonio Medeiros of New Bedford.

Following Alvarez's plea Wednesday, the judge sentenced him to 90 days in jail, ordered him to undergo anger management counseling and to pay $252 in restitution to the Coalition for Animals.