A 52-year-old woman faces up to two years in jail after being convicted of choking a cat and then baking it to death in an oven. A state Supreme Court jury deliberated over three days before finally agreeing Tuesday January 28, 2003 on a guilty verdict against Laura M. Manning of Syracuse.
Onondaga County Assistant District Attorney Laura Fiorenza said she intended to ask Justice John Brunetti to impose some jail time as punishment for what Manning did. Sentencing was scheduled for March 14.
''She didn't just kill this cat. She tortured the animal,'' the prosecutor said. ''She baked it alive, which was a very cruel and painful death for the animal. She did it intentionally.''
Fiorenza said she did not know why Manning did what she did last July 7. A witness told police he saw Manning choking a cat, then carry the animal into her home, and place it still alive in the oven. Minutes later, smoke and a strong odor came from the apartment, and firefighters found the cat in the oven.
Defense lawyer August Nordone said he was disappointed by the verdict finding Manning guilty of the felony count of cruelty to animals. He said Manning seemed stunned by the outcome.
The defense had contended Manning was not present at the residence when the cat was killed. Nordone had suggested that an ongoing dispute between Manning and some others had led someone else to kill the cat and blame Manning. Case Updates| Sentenced March 14, 2003 to 10 days in jail and 5 years probation | | Update posted on Mar 16, 2003 - 3:10AM |
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