On July 4, local time, a court in western France held a trial, and the defendant was actually a copper-feathered rooster named Maurice.....
How can a rooster be taken to court?
CNN reported on July 4 that Morris was always chirping in the early morning, and neighbors accused it of causing noise pollution. CNN said the case was heard on July 4 in the Rochefort court in Charente-sur-Mer province.
Screenshot of CNN report
On the same day, fearing that Morris's appearance would disrupt the proceedings, its owner, Corinne Fisso, decided to appear on its behalf. But Fisso told CNN that several people brought other roosters to court to show their support.
CNN said the verdict would have to wait until September 5. Still, Julian Papino, a lawyer for Fisso and Morris, said he believed the trial would benefit his client.
The story begins in 2017.
According to Fieso, she and Maurice live in the village of Saint-Pierre-d'Oleron on the island of Oléron. In April 2017, neighbors complained to her for the first time, asking her to keep Morris quiet. According to her description, the neighbors were city dwellers who only came to Saint-Pierre-Oleren a few times a year.
Fisso told CNN: "I've lived here for 35 years and I've never bothered anyone."
According to CNN, the attitude of these neighbors towards the rooster is considered a symbol of the polarization between urban and rural areas in France. The solution, Fieso argues, is to make these people understand: "The countryside is still rural, and we must allow the roosters to crow." In addition, Fiesso also said that he "wants to protect all the roosters in France".
"I want these people to understand what it means to be rural," she said.
CNN said Fieso's idea also received a lot of support, with nearly 120,000 people signing her petition online to save Morris.
After the trial, Fisso told CNN that she was satisfied with the current state of affairs. She looked forward to telling Morris about the interrogation, "I'm going to see him, kiss him, and tell him we'll win!"