Crime & Safety
Merokean Pleads Not Guilty in Rabbit Killing
Nicolas A. Coyle, 20, allegedly used rabbit's corpse as puck in 2011 incident.
A Chaminade High School alumni who was arrested for allegedly beating a rabbit to death with a hockey stick and using it as a puck has pled not guilty to charges in a Rhode Island court.
Merrick native Nicolas A. Coyle was arrested and charged with a felony of a malicious killing of an animal and a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals after a Nov. 4, 2011 incident at Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. He was arrested on Nov. 16, 2011.
The charges carry a maximum 2-year prison sentence and a $1,000 fine.
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Coyle, who played for the Salve Regina hockey team in 2011 but was not listed on the roster after the incident, is now currently enrolled in Nassau Community College.
According to Newsday, Coyle “was arraigned Thursday on the felony charge, his $10,000 bail was continued and he was released on personal recognizance.”
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He is next scheduled to appear in Newport Superior Court on May 21.
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