Massachusetts dog abuse case now in hands of jury

DEDHAM, Mass. — The case of a Massachusetts man charged with abusing a dog so severely that it had to be euthanized is in the hands of the jury.

The prosecution and defense in the animal cruelty trial of Radoslaw Czerkawski made closing statements on Thursday.

Czerkawski's attorney said although his client owned the dog, it ran away and someone else was responsible for the abuse. He said prosecutors had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt his client caused the dog's injuries.

The prosecutor said a blood stain found inside Czerkawski's home matched the dog's DNA.

The starving female pit bull mix dubbed Puppy Doe was found in a Quincy, Massachusetts park in 2013 with injuries so severe veterinarians determined it could not be saved.

Czerkawski already is in prison on unrelated larceny convictions.

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Associated Press