BRIDGNORTH HORSE KILLERS MATTHEW CORFIELD AND ALEX LISTER BRUTALLY ATTACK HORSE AT ESSINGTON HALL FARM

On Friday, April 13th, 2007, a tragic and disturbing incident unfolded at Essington Hall Farm in South Staffordshire, involving two young men from Wolverhampton, Matthew Corfield and Alex Lister, who carried out a brutal attack on a defenseless horse named Maggie. The incident shocked the local community and drew widespread condemnation for the cruelty inflicted upon the innocent animal.

Matthew Corfield, born on November 5th, 1988, and residing in Garden Village, Highley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, along with Alex Lister, born on September 22nd, 1989, of Bickford Lane, Teignmouth, were both under the influence of alcohol when they targeted Maggie. The horse, a piebald mare, was grazing peacefully at Essington Hall Farm when the two youths, along with a third individual, Anthony Ronald Hinsley, born September 7th, 1988, of Wolverhampton, initially involved in the incident, but whose case was later dismissed, entered her field.

According to reports, the trio had been drinking in nearby woods with two other youths before they approached Maggie. They startled her as she tried to flee, and in a horrifying display of cruelty, Corfield and Lister chased her across the field. Corfield, in particular, was seen repeatedly hurling a meat cleaver at the horse, a weapon he had brought with him, ostensibly for chopping wood to make a fire while camping in Black Cat Wood. Witnesses recounted that Corfield laughed as he examined the bloodstained blade, showing a disturbing lack of remorse.

The following day, Maggie was discovered lying in a pool of blood, suffering from severe injuries. She had sustained a five-inch-deep cut to her neck, a three-and-a-half-inch wound on her shoulder, and her right leg was broken. The most grievous injury was a blow that severed the tendon of one of her rear legs, cutting down to the bone. The extent of her injuries was so severe that she had to be humanely euthanized to end her suffering.

Local residents, appalled by the cruelty, raised £1,500 to fund the investigation and to assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Corfield, Lister, and Hinsley were arrested following this public outcry. During the court proceedings, Corfield's defense argued that his actions were not premeditated and that he did not accept being solely responsible. His lawyer, Paul Jenkins, claimed that Corfield had taken the cleaver to the woods intending to chop firewood for a camping trip with friends.

Similarly, Lister's legal representative, Ian Hodnett, stated that Lister had attempted to record the chase on his mobile phone but failed. He also mentioned that Lister's involvement was limited to chasing Maggie around the paddock, implying a lesser degree of culpability.

Both Corfield and Lister admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to Maggie, a plea that led to their sentencing. Corfield received a sentence of five months in a young offenders' institution but was released after serving only eight weeks. His father, Peter Corfield, publicly expressed his belief that his son had