Fisherman filmed beating turtle to death in sickening hammer attack 'claimed he was acting in self-defence'

WARNING: DISTRESSING FOOTAGE: Cruel Terry Wayne Washington, 55, told police the animal had tried to bite him, but witnesses told a different story

A man filmed carrying out a sickening hammer attack on a turtle has claimed he was acting in self-defence.

Terry Wayne Washington, 55, brutally bludgeoned the animal to death after luring it out the water, according to witnesses.

Police launched a manhunt for Washington after footage of the incident in Austin, Texas, was shared on Facebook .

Under his post, witness Geoffrey Frank wrote: “Share this video and get this man caught.

“People like this make me sick to my stomach.

"He just hooked the turtle, lured it out of the water, and just nonchalantly smashed it to death with a hammer.”

Washington was fishing with a friend near the Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail when he hooked the turtle - causing passers-by to stop and watch as he struggled with the animal.

His friend then pulled the 40-pound snapping turtle, ashore by hooking the claw end of a hammer under the reptile’s shell, according to Fox News.

Washington then smashed the turtle in the head more than 10 times before dragging it under a bridge and fleeing.

According to a police affidavit, he told police he acted in self defence - and wanted to get his fishing hook back - after the reptile tried to bite him several times.

But his friend told police the turtles in the water were proving a nuisance because they kept scaring away the fish.

Washington was charged on Tuesday with cruelty to a non-livestock animal.

Washington’s bond was set at $5,000. 

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