A Bahraini man has been acquitted by the Lower Criminal Court of charges related to the killing of a dog that attacked his pet. The court ruled that the man acted in self-defense, using proportionate force to protect his property.
The incident occurred when the man was walking his dog and a larger dog attacked his pet.
In response, the man stabbed the attacking dog once in the back, resulting in its death. The owner of the deceased dog filed a complaint, and the Public Prosecution charged the man with the intentional killing of a domesticated animal.
The defense lawyer argued that his client acted within his legal right to defend his property.
He cited Article 16 of the Penal Code, which states that “There is no crime if the act is committed in the exercise of a right granted by law or custom,” and Article 17, which outlines the conditions for self-defense.
The court agreed with the defense’s argument, finding that the man faced a clear and present danger to his property, his dog.
The court noted that the man’s action — stabbing the attacking dog once — was proportionate to the threat he faced.
As a result, the court ruled that the man acted in self-defense and acquitted him of all charges.
