Mercy's Trial - coverage of Wednesday's testimonies

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From Jonnie England: Below are links to two TV stories on the trial, plus an article in today’s Dallas Morning News. For an account by Operation Kindness staff in the courtroom, go to www.OperationKindness.org and click on Mercy’s photo. Thanks for

your continued prayers and support. Jonnie NBC5 (9/26/07): http://video.nbc5i.com/player/?id=160844 CW33 (9/26/07): (9/26/07) Trial Continues for Man Accused of Torturing "Mercy" the Dog The Dallas Morning News (9/27/07) : Trial continues in case of man accused of torturing, killing his dog Attorneys, public later kept out of courtroom while witness on stand 12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, September 27, 2007 By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News jemily Testimony continued Wednesday in the case of a man accused of torturing his dog by setting her on fire. The dog, named Mercy by caregivers, died 10 days after she was stabbed, doused in gasoline and set on fire in April 2006. Deshawn Brown, 22, is charged with animal cruelty and faces up to 10 years in prison. Several witnesses said they saw him with a can of gasoline after the dog, which Mr. Brown called Brandy, was set on fire. One witness testified Tuesday that he saw Mr. Brown with a knife. Ricky Vasquez testified Wednesday that he and a friend were sitting outside their Far North Dallas apartment complex when he heard the dog's cries and saw the animal ablaze. He opened a beer and poured it on the dog – a 10-month-old pit bull mix – to put out the fire. He said a friend took off his

shirt and used it to douse the flames. Mr. Vasquez said that moments later, he saw Mr. Brown walking down the stairs with a gas can in his right hand. "I asked him, 'Are you the one who burned that dog?' and he said, 'Where's that piece of [expletive] dog?' " Mr. Vasquez said. Prosecutors David Alex

and Terri Moore say Mr. Brown was angry because the dog would not breed. But defense attorney Dan Wyde said his client Mr. Brown is innocent and no one saw Mr. Brown hurt the animal. Members of the media were temporarily barred from the courtroom for about 80 minutes Wednesday morning when a bailiff prevented them from entering during testimony that included information about a witness' juvenile record. The bailiff said that he did not know why no one was allowed in the courtroom, and that he was only doing his job. But after media members were allowed in the courtroom, state District Judge Mike Snipes said he did not intend for them to be kept out. "It was a result of a misunderstanding between me and my bailiff," Judge Snipes said from the bench. "You have full access here." But even after reporters were allowed in the courtroom, the rest of the public, including prosecutors and defense

attorneys, was not allowed inside for about another hour – after the witness had left the stand. Judge Snipes declined to comment after court adjourned for the day about his reasons for keeping members of the public out of the courtroom. Through his court coordinator, he said that speaking about any aspect of the case would violate judicial ethics. The prosecution is expected to rest today, and then the defense will open its case.

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