1. The Pig of Falaise (1386)
In 1386, the town of Falaise, France, witnessed an extraordinary trial: a pig stood accused of killing a child. The court treated the animal as it would a human criminal, complete with legal representation and a formal hearing. After being found guilty, the pig was publicly executed—a grim spectacle meant to demonstrate the seriousness of the offense.
This infamous case remains one of the most cited examples of medieval animal trials, highlighting how justice once extended beyond humans.
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