A Muslim man, who was fasting during Ramadan, has been jailed for two months for killing a swan. All swans in Great Britain belong to the Monarch.
When told of this , Shamshu Miah said "I hate the Queen. I hate this country."
So why the hell did he choose to live here?
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Hungry man who killed swan jailed
Miah told the court he needed to eat
A man who claimed he killed a swan because he was hungry on the second day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has been jailed for two months.
However, Shamshu Miah, 52, from Llandudno was released because of the time he has already spent in custody.
He admitted intentionally killing a wild bird at Llandudno boating pool and possessing a kitchen knife in public.
District judge Andrew Shaw sitting at the town's magistrates court said it was a "cruel and reprehensible act".
"You killed the swan at night. It was a cruel and reprehensible act. I don't know exactly how the animal died. There seems to be speculation you may have bitten it."
'Taboo act'
However, the judge said he had to accept Miah's version that he killed it with a knife.
The court heard that when he was challenged by police he told them: "I am a Muslim, I am fasting, I needed to eat."
Due to an ancient and eccentric law, all swans in Great Britain are owned by the Monarch. The swan that Miah killed belonged to the Queen.
Jim Neary, prosecuting, said: "When interviewed he said, 'I was hungry, I had to eat the swan so I killed it, I stabbed it. I did nothing wrong, it was just a bird, I needed to eat.'"
"The officers told him the swan was the property of the Queen and he replied, 'I hate the Queen, I hate this country.'"
Judge Shaw added: "It's a taboo act and the only sentence that is appropriate is imprisonment."
Police were alerted by a householder.
The court heard a community mental health team was anxious to help Miah, who had been going through a period of instability, according to his solicitor. He had no previous convictions.
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"SWAN UPPING" AND THE ROYAL OWNERSHIP OF ALL SWANS
Swan Upping is an annual ceremonial and practical activity in England in which mute swans on the River Thames are rounded up, caught, marked, and then released.
Traditionally, the Monarch of the United Kingdom owns all unmarked mute swans on the River Thames. This dates from the 12th century, during which swans were a common food source for royalty. Swan upping is a means of establishing a swan census. Under a Royal Charter of the 15th century, the Vintners' Company and the Dyers' Company, two Livery Companies of the City of London, are entitled to share in the Sovereign's ownership. They conduct the census through a process of ringing the swan's feet, but the swans are no longer eaten.
Swan upping (a ceremony of typical British eccentricity) occurs annually during the third week of July. During the ceremony, the Queen's, the Vintners', and the Dyers' Swan Uppers row up the river in skiffs. Swans caught by the Queen's Swan Uppers under the direction of the Swan Marker remain unmarked, those caught by the Dyers' are ringed on one leg, and those caught by the Vintners are ringed on both legs. Originally, rather than being ringed, the swans would be marked on the bill — a practice commemorated in the British pub name The Swan with Two Necks, a corruption of the term "The Swan with Two Nicks".
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The annual swan upping ceremony on the River Thames
The three boats - the Queen's Swan Uppers, the Vintners' Swan Uppers and the Dyers' Swan Uppers, sail up the Thames. Those swans caught by the men of the Monarch are unmarked; those by the Dyers are ringed on one leg; those by the Vintners are ringed on both legs.
The Vintners Company skiff. Note the Swan feather in the cox's cap.
wikipedia.org
When told of this , Shamshu Miah said "I hate the Queen. I hate this country."
So why the hell did he choose to live here?
----------------------------------------------------------
Hungry man who killed swan jailed
A man who claimed he killed a swan because he was hungry on the second day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has been jailed for two months.
However, Shamshu Miah, 52, from Llandudno was released because of the time he has already spent in custody.
He admitted intentionally killing a wild bird at Llandudno boating pool and possessing a kitchen knife in public.
District judge Andrew Shaw sitting at the town's magistrates court said it was a "cruel and reprehensible act".
"You killed the swan at night. It was a cruel and reprehensible act. I don't know exactly how the animal died. There seems to be speculation you may have bitten it."
'Taboo act'
However, the judge said he had to accept Miah's version that he killed it with a knife.
The court heard that when he was challenged by police he told them: "I am a Muslim, I am fasting, I needed to eat."
Due to an ancient and eccentric law, all swans in Great Britain are owned by the Monarch. The swan that Miah killed belonged to the Queen.
Jim Neary, prosecuting, said: "When interviewed he said, 'I was hungry, I had to eat the swan so I killed it, I stabbed it. I did nothing wrong, it was just a bird, I needed to eat.'"
"The officers told him the swan was the property of the Queen and he replied, 'I hate the Queen, I hate this country.'"
Judge Shaw added: "It's a taboo act and the only sentence that is appropriate is imprisonment."
Police were alerted by a householder.
The court heard a community mental health team was anxious to help Miah, who had been going through a period of instability, according to his solicitor. He had no previous convictions.
--------------------------------------------------
"SWAN UPPING" AND THE ROYAL OWNERSHIP OF ALL SWANS
Swan Upping is an annual ceremonial and practical activity in England in which mute swans on the River Thames are rounded up, caught, marked, and then released.
Traditionally, the Monarch of the United Kingdom owns all unmarked mute swans on the River Thames. This dates from the 12th century, during which swans were a common food source for royalty. Swan upping is a means of establishing a swan census. Under a Royal Charter of the 15th century, the Vintners' Company and the Dyers' Company, two Livery Companies of the City of London, are entitled to share in the Sovereign's ownership. They conduct the census through a process of ringing the swan's feet, but the swans are no longer eaten.
Swan upping (a ceremony of typical British eccentricity) occurs annually during the third week of July. During the ceremony, the Queen's, the Vintners', and the Dyers' Swan Uppers row up the river in skiffs. Swans caught by the Queen's Swan Uppers under the direction of the Swan Marker remain unmarked, those caught by the Dyers' are ringed on one leg, and those caught by the Vintners are ringed on both legs. Originally, rather than being ringed, the swans would be marked on the bill — a practice commemorated in the British pub name The Swan with Two Necks, a corruption of the term "The Swan with Two Nicks".
------------------------------------------
The annual swan upping ceremony on the River Thames
The three boats - the Queen's Swan Uppers, the Vintners' Swan Uppers and the Dyers' Swan Uppers, sail up the Thames. Those swans caught by the men of the Monarch are unmarked; those by the Dyers are ringed on one leg; those by the Vintners are ringed on both legs.
The Vintners Company skiff. Note the Swan feather in the cox's cap.
wikipedia.org
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