NEW YORK - A U.S. teenager has been charged with a felony, and could face a two-year prison sentence if convicted, for killing her family’s pet hamster, authorities said.

Monique Smith, 19, of Brooklyn was arguing with a family member in June when she reached for the hamster, choked it and threw it outside the house, police said on Wednesday.

She was arrested following an investigation after Smith’s father contacted the America Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, according to the society’s assistant director Joe Pentangelo.

Smith is charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals.

“Sadly, very often, pets find themselves in the middle of these situations,” said Pentangelo. “A family will have a disagreement and unfortunately the animal is the recipient of misdirected or redirected rage.”

The hamster died from blunt force trauma, liver damage and a brain hemorrhage, he said.

Who the fuck only got jailed for 1 day for killing a man?

WINNIPEG - Two teens who beat a man to death while attending Gimli's Icelandic Festival have been sentenced to one day in jail and three years supervised probation.

Martyn Hendy, 29, died Aug. 3, 2008, following a violent encounter with several youths.

The two accused, both now 19, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Charges against three other youths were previously stayed.

The sentence was jointly recommended by the Crown and defence. Court heard witnesses could not identify the accused and offered wildly conflicting versions of what happened, reducing the Crown's prospects of conviction at trial.

"The two individuals came forward and admitted their guilt in circumstances where they didn't necessarily have to," Crown attorney Bruce Sychuk told court Friday.

Court heard Hendy and the teens had been involved in two "skirmishes" prior to the fatal attack. Their final, fatal encounter occurred about 2:45 a.m. The two accused and others were walking behind Hendy "exchanging words" when Hendy turned around with his fists raised, Sychuk said.

One of the accused punched Hendy in the face, knocking him to the ground. The second accused and others kicked Hendy in the neck, back and upper body.

Hendy "was too drunk to fight or ... defend himself," Sychuk said.

Court heard Hendy suffered severe head injuries in the attack, but it was unclear whether they were caused by a punch to the face, striking his head on the pavement, or something else.

Pre-sentence and forensic reports prepared for court assessed both teens as very low risks to reoffend. Court heard one of the teens is an elite athlete and possible future Olympian.

The beating Hendy suffered and what the court can prove are two different things, Judge Ray Wyant said.

"I get the picture of a bunch of young guys having a lot to drink with a lot of bravado and macho doing something that nobody should do to somebody else," Wyant said. "That's what (Hendy's family) sees and that's what happened. I know that and they know that."

Wyant said he had no grounds to depart from the joint recommendation.

Many people might feel the two accused "are getting off scott-free, or close to it," Wyant said.

"I only hope these young men devote their lives to Mr. Hendy's memory," he said. "In one sense, I really do hope they serve a life sentence in the sense that their guilt and responsibility for their actions stays with them."

Who the fuck only got jailed for 1 day for killing a man?

WINNIPEG - Two teens who beat a man to death while attending Gimli's Icelandic Festival have been sentenced to one day in jail and three years supervised probation.

Martyn Hendy, 29, died Aug. 3, 2008, following a violent encounter with several youths.

The two accused, both now 19, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Charges against three other youths were previously stayed.

The sentence was jointly recommended by the Crown and defence. Court heard witnesses could not identify the accused and offered wildly conflicting versions of what happened, reducing the Crown's prospects of conviction at trial.

"The two individuals came forward and admitted their guilt in circumstances where they didn't necessarily have to," Crown attorney Bruce Sychuk told court Friday.

Court heard Hendy and the teens had been involved in two "skirmishes" prior to the fatal attack. Their final, fatal encounter occurred about 2:45 a.m. The two accused and others were walking behind Hendy "exchanging words" when Hendy turned around with his fists raised, Sychuk said.

One of the accused punched Hendy in the face, knocking him to the ground. The second accused and others kicked Hendy in the neck, back and upper body.

Hendy "was too drunk to fight or ... defend himself," Sychuk said.

Court heard Hendy suffered severe head injuries in the attack, but it was unclear whether they were caused by a punch to the face, striking his head on the pavement, or something else.

Pre-sentence and forensic reports prepared for court assessed both teens as very low risks to reoffend. Court heard one of the teens is an elite athlete and possible future Olympian.

The beating Hendy suffered and what the court can prove are two different things, Judge Ray Wyant said.

"I get the picture of a bunch of young guys having a lot to drink with a lot of bravado and macho doing something that nobody should do to somebody else," Wyant said. "That's what (Hendy's family) sees and that's what happened. I know that and they know that."

Wyant said he had no grounds to depart from the joint recommendation.

Many people might feel the two accused "are getting off scott-free, or close to it," Wyant said.

"I only hope these young men devote their lives to Mr. Hendy's memory," he said. "In one sense, I really do hope they serve a life sentence in the sense that their guilt and responsibility for their actions stays with them."