Overview

• Lucas B., a student in Marseille, was fined €1,500 with a suspended sentence for killing a live mouse during a 2023 student initiation event.
• Cédric V., who filmed the incident and shared it online, received a €1,000 fine with a suspended sentence.
• Both students were ordered to pay €1 in symbolic damages to animal rights organizations, including the Fondation 30 Millions d’Amis and the SPA.
• The court decided not to record the convictions on their criminal records, citing potential harm to their professional futures.
• Animal rights advocates criticized the ruling as too lenient, arguing it sends a permissive message about animal cruelty.