Zachary King Jr., 7-years old, was killed by his family's pit bull.
Father Not Guilty
UPDATE 04/11/08: A judge has ruled that a Minneapolis father is not guilty for the death of his son who was fatally attacked by a family pit bull on August 16, 2007. Zachary King Senior was found not guilty of a second- degree manslaughter charge. The ruling came in Friday around 10:30 am. Judge Burke called the boy's death a "horrific tragedy," and that it was a poor decision by the father to keep two pit bulls and five pit bull puppies in a household with four young children.
The judge called the pit-bull-attack death of 7-year-old Zachary King Jr. a "horrific tragedy" and said it "simply makes no sense" for Zachary's father to keep two pit bulls and five pit bull puppies in the house with four young children.
But Hennepin County District Judge Kevin Burke found Zachary King Sr. not guilty Friday of second-degree manslaughter in the Aug. 16 death of his son at his Minneapolis home.
"Justice was served," said King, 31, after the verdict was announced. "I'm not a bad person.
"I don't feel differently about dogs. I feel like it's a tragic accident," he said. But he said he wouldn't get another pit bull.- Pioneer Press, April 11, 2008
03/17/08: Killed by Family Pit Bull
Minneapolis, MN - Zachary King Jr. was killed by his family's pit bull last year. The elder King is being tried on charges of second-degree manslaughter in connection to his death. Prosecutors say the dog had bitten people seven times previously and that King knew it had a propensity for vicious behavior. Prosecution's opening statements were chilling, stating the father kept a pit bull named Face as "wild animal being confined in this basement in the worst of conditions."
Hennepin County prosecutors said King, 31, knew the dog had a propensity for vicious behavior and that he negligently failed to confine the dog.
When the boy went to the basement to play with the dog, he was met with a “violent, vicious, brutal attack” by an animal that weighed almost as much as the child.
It was “totally, completely avoidable and preventable,” assistant County Attorney Amy Sweasy said.
On seven occasions the dog had bitten people, including King’s son, before the deadly Aug. 16 attack, Sweasy said. She said King kept the dog muzzled or tied up when strangers were at the house, but it was allowed to run free among family members. - Pioneer Press, March 17, 2008
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05/19/08: 2008 Dog Bite Fatality: 7-Year Old Boy Killed by Pit Bulls in Breckenridge, Texas
Who will take care of his family while he is behind bars? The law is the law, negligence is negligence…but I do pray for his family, the real victims in this tragedy.
He is not taking very good care of them now, one was mauled to death by a dog he had chained in the basement. It’s about time these people were punished for this kind of behavior.
You make a heck of a point!
“This is a family dog,” he told the judge. “This is a family dog that protected the home. This is a family that could never anticipate a thing like this.”
Tell it to the jury!
Time for these folks to pay the price for snuffing young lives while playing lion tamer.
“Playing Loin Tamer” is a pretty good piont also.
Update: Tearful father testifies
http://www.twincities.com/ci_8627375?source=most_viewed
Defense witnesses this morning, including a school counselor, two pastors, a county child protection worker and King’s mother, testified this morning that King and his wife, Melissa, were attentive, protective parents and that their house at 3530 Humboldt Ave. N. was kept clean and safe for their children.
Cept’ for the human aggressive Pit Bull breeding operation in the basement….
Another update…
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_8631655?nclick_check=1
The family received counselling and access to a Pit Bull therapy dog.
You may have read now that the verdict was “not guilty.” Good defense lawyering, apparently. Regardless, this father already suffered the ultimate punishment of all — the death of his son.
Family dog, indeed!
Last time I checked Lassie wasn't chained in her own filth in the basement.