Simon Sutinen sentenced over ‘chilling’ possum killing

A veteran magistrate has described the actions of a man who stabbed a possum to death as “chilling”.

A man has been sentenced over the “chilling” killing of a possum. Generic image.

A Canberra man has been sentenced for the “chilling” killing of a defenceless possum stuck in a chimney.

Simon Pasi Sutinen, 35, was also sentenced for two other unrelated offences at the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday.

Prosecutors told the court in February 2022 Sutinen took a kitchen knife and stabbed a possum stuck in his chimney multiple times resulting in its death.

Sutinen then disposed of the body in a green bin which was found by police.

The court heard at the time of the incident ACT Fire and Rescue was responding to a fire at the property, however prosecutors said there was nothing to suggest Sutinen set the building on fire.

Sutinen was charged with aggravated animal cruelty causing death over the incident.

A Canberra man has been sentenced for the “chilling” killing of a defenceless possum stuck in a chimney. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Magistrate Lisbeth Campbell said Sutinen’s actions were a “chilling example” of animal cruelty.

“You may see (possums) as a pest,” she said.

“But it was a trapped sentient being (and) you stabbed it a number of times.

“It was a warm breathing body and you were able to terminate with callous indifference.”

Prosecutors said Sutinen was found at Lyneham shops damaging public e-scooters and bins using fire only weeks after killing the possum.

Prosecutors said when police asked him about what he was doing Sutinen said “I’m just having a burn off, I’m bored.”

Sutinen was then charged with damaging property over $1000 in value.

Prosecutors told the court during September 2021, Sutinen was Covid-19 positive and staying at a quarantine facility in Acton.

Police saw him attempt to return to the facility after he had unlawfully left.

Sutinen told police he went to the IGA on East Row, Civic to buy cigarettes.

He was charged with failing to comply with an order without reasonable excuse.

Sutinen pleaded guilty to all three charges.

The court heard at the time of the February 2022 and March 2022 offences, Sutinen was already serving a good behaviour order and he was facing an unrelated arson offence in the ACT Supreme Court.

Prosecutors told the court Sutinen had spent almost a year remanded in custody and had pleaded guilty .

Due to his poor compliance with previous court orders, Ms Campbell said she did not know if Sutinen had good prospects of rehabilitation.

Ms Campbell noted Sutinen had complex mental illnesses but said it was not clear he had made steps to address them.

She convicted him of all three charges.

For breaching Covid-19 orders Sutinen was fined $1000.

For the animal cruelty charge, the damaging property charge, and for resentencing a prior offence, Ms Campbell sentenced him to nine months’ imprisonment.

The sentence was backdated to account for Sutinen's time spent on remand.

Ms Campbell told the court if it weren’t for Sutinen being remanded in custody for the Supreme Court matter, he would be able to walk free.