Overview

• Manuel Merlhiot, a member of the Longo Maï community, is on trial for killing seven hunting dogs he claimed were attacking his pigs in December 2023.
• The prosecution has requested an eight-month suspended sentence for Merlhiot, calling his actions a 'disproportionate reaction.'
• Two hunters, accused of allowing their dogs to roam freely and attack livestock, face potential fines, though they deny negligence, citing the region's difficult terrain.
• The trial has drawn significant public attention, with 300 hunters protesting outside the courthouse in support of their peers.
• The case underscores broader cultural and ideological conflicts in rural France, reflecting tensions between traditional hunting practices and alternative lifestyles like those of Longo Maï.