KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Man acquitted in beating death of horse
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Associated Press - December 11, 2009 6:54 AM ET
MONTICELLO, Ark. (AP) - A Drew County man has been found not guilty in the beating death of a horse.
Attorneys said Thursday that 20-year-old Benjamin Briney was acquitted of felony aggravated animal cruelty for beating the pony to death with a baseball bat in August.
Defense attorney Chris Hays argued that Briney's education and his intellectual functioning is limited and that he did the only thing he knew to do. Briney testified that the horse's owner suggested it be put to death after it had been attacked and injured by other animals.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Zach Vaughn says he's shocked at the verdict - but said the jury had a different opinion of the case than he did.
Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com
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