Tuesday June 4, 2013 To All Animal Advocates and Concerned Citizens: Today was the first day of the aggravated animal cruelty trial against former Memphis Animal Services worker Billy Stewart and Community Action for Animals was there. The 5 count indictment of Stewart was the result of a deep undercover investigation of the Memphis Animal Services performed by the Memphis Police Department. Stewart was indicted with two other former MAS workers, Frank Lightfoot and Archie Elliot. Last September Lightfoot and Elliot entered guilty pleas to choking, hanging and performing illegal and horribly painful heart sticks on conscious dogs in the euthanasia room at MAS. The State called two witnesses today, the undercover officer and Frank Lightfoot. During cross examination the Defense asked the officer how he knew what Stewart was doing was wrong. The officer replied "because I am human". Lightfoot tried to place the blame on the managers of MAS, stating they were "under pressure" to hurry. It was a grueling 6 hours of testimony and the testimony left little to the imagination. Particularly disturbing was what Stewart said in the euthanasia room after using the catch pole to strangle a medium sized collie mix for 3 minutes until it finally collapsed, unconscious..."hit this one Light, hurry no one needs to see this". Frank Lightfoot was not forthcoming in his testimony and clearly was trying to diminish what Stewart had done even though he admitted the very same actions during his guilty plea last September. As usual, ABC Channel 24 was the only broadcast media in the courtroom. Please watch the link and comment on the story. localmemphis/news/local/story/Former-Shelter-Employee-on-Trial-for-Animal/fs5yVek1rkacZklnaN6qlA.cspx The trial resumes tomorrow and Community Action for Animals will provide updates, Cindy Sanders Jackie Johns Community Action for Animals caamemphis
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:41:17 +0000
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