Animal Abuse Trial Involving Pit Bull Continues
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Every inch of the pit bull's body was severely burned after being set on fire.
Suzanne Collins reports two teens say someone else committed that cruel act.
Phoenix could barely hold up her head after being set on fire; she was eventually put to sleep. A vet who cared for her was heartbroken.
"We were speechless and overwhelmed with emotion," said Dr. Marcella Bonner.
There's no question what happened to Phoenix is a horrible and criminal act. But was it Tremayne and Travers Johnson seen nearby in a poor quality police video? The defense says the circumstantial evidence is flimsy and the police investigation was botched.
Animal advocates are listening in court.
"I'm against abuse. I don't really feel it matters if it's a dog, a cat, a person. This is a case of abuse," said Jeanne Giorgilli.
Jurors heard about flammable liquids Wednesday. A crime lab technician testified that tests on two pairs of jeans taken from the Johnson brothers did have trace evidence of petroleum, but tests on other things, like one of their T-shirts and even the dog's collar, were inconclusive.
The crime lab analyst admitted all the evidence she tested came tossed in one bag, allowing for cross contamination.
A national animal advocacy group says hopefully police will take more care in future cases.
"We feel this case could have very important implications for the way animals are treated in the future in the criminal system. They seem to fall between the cracks," said Dorothea Ottesen, Animal Welfare Institute.
The city formed a commission to recommend how to prevent animal abuse after Phoenix was set on fire.
