Two Cavour men charged under South Dakota’s felony animal cruelty law have been found not guilty by a Beadle County jury. The panel of seven women and five men needed approximately 70 minutes to find 35-year-old Justin Murray and 67-year-old Dennis Kerney not guilty of the felony animal abuse charge and a charge of mistreatment of an animal. Beadle County States Attorney Mike Moore says the two day trial came down to credibility…
It was the first time Moore’s office prosecuted a case under the new felony level animal cruelty statue. He says the loss can be a learning experience…
He says there are positives from the loss…
Defense attorneys declined comment following the verdict.