A man, who in a fit of rage attacked and slaughtered more than 40 chickens with his machete after he was accused of stealing a phone, is now before the court.

The man, Oraine Samuels, was arrested after he violently slaughtered the chickens and destroyed their coop. He appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Allegations are that an argument about a missing cellphone developed between the accused and the complainant, who are both cousins.

Defenceless fowls

It is said that Samuels took his rage from that argument to his cousin's defenceless fowls, chopping 48 of the birds. Only five survived the brutal attack.

Samuels was subsequently arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property. The complainant said the loss is valued at $45,000.

The complainant, however, told the court that he and the accused were settling the matter and he wished for him to be granted bail. Samuels' bail was set at $20,000.