Now facing animal cruelty charges, the men protested they spotted the fish in difficulty by the edge of the lake and had hoped the champagne might cheer it up a bit.

“The poor thing was on its last legs, we wanted to warm it up so it could enjoy the New Year,” one of the men said.

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Prosecutors claim the men were pouring the champagne into the fish’s mouth in an attempt to kill it and later take it home to eat.

Charges of animal cruelty and poaching will be heard in court later this year. The three men face up to two years in jail.