Thursday, 21 March, 2002
California Couple Found Guilty in Dog Mauling Death
VOA
News 22
Mar 2002

A Los Angeles jury
has found the owners of two dogs that attacked and killed a neighbor guilty on
all counts.
The jury convicted
Marjorie Knoller of second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and owning a
mischievous animal that kills. She faces 15 years to life in prison for the
murder count.
Her husband, Robert
Noel, was convicted of manslaughter. He faces four years in jail. The
California couple will be sentenced at a later date.
A large and powerful
Presa Canario dog that belonged to the couple attacked and mauled to death
their neighbor, Diane Whipple, in San Francisco last year. It is unclear what
prompted the dog to attack. During the trial, prosecutors showed gruesome
pictures of Ms. Whipple's body after her death. They called the couple's Presa
Canario dogs "time bombs" and brought out more than 30 witnesses who said the
animals would snarl at them.
Defense lawyers said
Knoller threw herself between Ms. Whipple and the attacking dog. Noel, who was
not present at the attack, had called his dogs gentle animals and said there
was no warning they would kill.
Both dogs have been
destroyed.
Sharon Smith, Ms.
Whipple's domestic partner, has filed a civil suit against Knoller and
Noel.
Some information
for this report provided by AP.
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