Two MMA students accused of cruelty in pig roast killing

CASTINE – Two students at Maine Maritime Academy have been charged with cruelty to animals for allegedly butchering a pig improperly on a Castine beach, Hancock County District Attorney Michael Povich said Tuesday.

The students reportedly killed the pig for a roast but failed to stun the pig before they cut its throat, Povich said.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department obtained a videotape another student made of the killing before summoning the students on the charge, Povich said.

According to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, Richard Hanning, 22, and Timothy Golden, 25, have been charged with cruelty to animals for not instantaneously killing the pig.

Povich said the students are not being accused of intentionally torturing the 125-pound animal.

“This is not a case of sadism,” Povich said. “Somebody thought they knew how to do it, but they didn’t do it right.”

Povich said the recommended method for killing a pig involves shooting the animal in the forehead with a .22-caliber rifle to stun it before slitting its throat.

The students bought the pig on April 11, the day before they killed it for the roast, Povich said. He said he did not know where Hanning and Golden bought the pig.