Pigeon-feeding man gets suspended sentence for assault

Japan Today -- Sep 27

The Nagoya District Court has sentenced a 61-year-old man to six months in prison, suspended for three years, after he was found guilty of injuring another man who warned him against feeding pigeons.

Yoshio Muranaga, an unemployed resident of Minami Ward, was charged with assault over an incident that occurred in July, Fuji TV reported. Muranaga was feeding pigeons at a park near his home when he got into an argument with another unemployed man and broke the victim’s ribs.

During the trial, Muranaga admitted to the charge. The prosecutor told the court that despite knowing he was causing a great inconvenience to other park users by attracting lots of pigeons to feed them, he became infuriated after being warned by the victim and attacked him.

Judge Yukie Yasufuku ruled that Muranaga’s act was “dangerous and malicious,” but since the suspect “has since shown remorse,” he was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for three years.