Man convicted of microwaving cat

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 31 (UPI) -- A Canadian man has been convicted of animal cruelty for cooking his girlfriend's cat in a microwave after he crushed the pet under a sofa, officials said.

John Ronald Hughes, 26, is facing a possible six months in jail or $2,000 fine, Crown counsel Alexandra Janse said. He is scheduled for sentencing July 8 on a conviction of causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal.

Hughes had consumed alcohol at Sara Kons' home on Valentine's Day 2005 before he woke her up and told her the cat was injured, the report said.

Kons said she suggested he snap the feline's neck to stop its suffering and fell back asleep, but later was roused when she heard the microwave door.

"It was horrible … I started yelling at him, 'What are you doing?' and I was in complete shock," she said in British Columbia Provincial Court.