US man charged with Chihuahua death faces life in jail
72 replies, posted
[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/52863000/jpg/_52863335_20110519__ssjm0520dogkiller~1_gallery-1.jpg[/img]
[quote=BBC]
A man in the US state of California faces a possible life sentence for allegedly killing his wife's Chihuahua.
Bud Wally Ruiz, 53, gave the puppy to his wife as a Mother's Day gift, but now he is charged with animal cruelty.
Ruiz has a criminal history stretching back 30 years, with four convictions for assault with a deadly weapon.
Under California's "three strikes" law, the courts are bound to consider a 25-year sentence for criminals convicted of multiple violent felonies.
However, they do have discretion to impose a lesser sentence if they decide the new offence is less serious.
'Not a monster'
Police responded to a late night emergency call on 12 May, and arrived at the couple's home in Gilroy, south east of San Jose in Silicon Valley, to find the puppy dead and the suspect gone.
Prosecutors allege an argument flared up after Ruiz got home drunk.
When his wife, Marcella, asked him to leave, Ruiz threw a travel bag containing the dog across the room, say police.
Marcella Ruiz accused her husband of assault, though she later retracted the allegation.
She subsequently told the local newspaper, Mercury News: "He was devastated. He's not a monster."
The Santa Clara County district attorney's office has charged Ruiz with two counts of cruelty to animals and one count of battery on a spouse.
"The courts weigh animal cruelty as a very serious offence," said Sgt Justin Matsuhara of the Santa Clara police department.
Ruiz is due to appear in court to enter a plea next week.
[/quote]
Source:
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13468912[/url]
WUT. LIFE SENTENCE FOR A DOG.
OK, if she accused him of assault and retracted that, how do we know he really threw the travel bag containing the dog?
Has the dog been autopsied to determine if the cause of death was consistent with being thrown across a room?
Also, this "three strikes" bullshit has got to go.
I understand that animal cruelty is bad and that the law is the law, but what good is a life sentence for such a petty crime?
Considering his past criminal record it isn't really surprising, if you have a history of violence and you continue it you are bound to get a bigger sentence.
They say he's forced to be 'considered' for 25 years in prison, which would most likely be the rest of his life.
However, I doubt this will happen, since the courts have the ability to lessen the sentence and not many juries consist of entirely PETA members.
Three strikes? Oh America.
Why the fuck was the dog in a bag? Who does that except dumb blonde chicks.
[QUOTE=Pepin;29987782]I understand that animal cruelty is bad and that the law is the law, but what good is a life sentence for such a petty crime?[/QUOTE]
So, killing another human is a terrible thing but killing an animal is not?
ANIMAL ELITISM
[QUOTE=Xenoyia v2;29988097]So, killing another human is a terrible thing but killing an animal is not?
ANIMAL ELITISM[/QUOTE]
hope you're being sarcastic
[QUOTE=Xenoyia v2;29988097]So, killing another human is a terrible thing but killing an animal is not?[/QUOTE]
what exactly is so controversial about that opinion?
Human life > animal life
deal with it.
Hahaha, oh America you so silly.
three strikes law :frog:
why the fuck of all states does california have that?
you'd expect a state like texas to have it, not california
[editline]22nd May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=RagamuffinIIII;29987923]Considering his past criminal record it isn't really surprising, if you have a history of violence and you continue it you are bound to get a bigger sentence.[/QUOTE]
this is excessive though
If that's true it's kinda sad a person does that while in a state of rage.
Can you imagine killing your pet in a rage and then regretting it? I can't.
[QUOTE=Xenoyia v2;29988097]So, killing another human is a terrible thing but killing an animal is not?
ANIMAL ELITISM[/QUOTE]
They're both bad but its pretty obvious which is worse
[QUOTE=Forumaster;29987771]OK, if she accused him of assault and retracted that, how do we know he really threw the travel bag containing the dog?
Has the dog been autopsied to determine if the cause of death was consistent with being thrown across a room?
Also, this "three strikes" bullshit has got to go.[/QUOTE]
He's been convicted for assaults with a deadly weapon few times so he has the tendency, he killed the dog, wife retracted the assaulting charge because she doesn't want him more trouble than what comes from killing a chihuahua. I think the assault charge was about the woman getting assaulted, which she retracted. The dog was killed.
[QUOTE=wuzzimu;29989962][img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tvsquad.com/media/2010/10/danny-trejo-getty-250.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
Alright well I can tell this thread is just going to be pictures of dark-skinned people with long hair
and michael jackson for some reason
[QUOTE=Zeke129;29994915]Alright well I can tell this thread is just going to be pictures of dark-skinned people with long hair
and michael jackson for some reason[/QUOTE]
Well he was black.
[QUOTE=Pepin;29987782]I understand that animal cruelty is bad and that the law is the law, but what good is a life sentence for such a petty crime?[/QUOTE]
Well it's not terribly petty but I don't think it warrants life in jail.
Fuck the 3 strikes law. Commit 2 felonies.
Then do a minor crime. You get fucking LIFE. Why? I could see the 3 strikes law on MAJOR CRIMES. Not a minor one. Im not saying killing a dog is minor. But getting life over a dog is retarded.
[editline]22nd May 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=JDK721;29988332]three strikes law :frog:
why the fuck of all states does california have that?
you'd expect a state like texas to have it, not california
[editline]22nd May 2011[/editline]
this is excessive though[/QUOTE]
California is the hotspot of major crimes.
Fuck that shit, I mean some murderers get out before 50 years!
Three strikes is really stupid they need to stop it, I never understood it.
I know hurting animals is wrong as fuck, but should it really mean life in jail? Imagine how things would be for him, Prisoner 1-"hey, how'd you get in here?" Him- "I killed my wife's puppy, i got a life sentence for it" Prisoner one proceeds to laugh his ass off. Puppy killer then commits suicide or stabbing.
He's not getting life for killing the dog, he's getting life for killing the dog AND a whole slew of dastardly deeds.
Crucial difference.
I think when you kill a dog/cat/animal you should get a animal life sentence. That cat breed lives for 9 years on average so you get 9 years in prison :)
[QUOTE=FreakySoup;29999691]He's not getting life for killing the dog, he's getting life for killing the dog AND a whole slew of dastardly deeds.
Crucial difference.[/QUOTE]
nope, the only thing he's been charged with is animal cruelty
sentencing someone to life for animal cruelty just because they've committed crimes in the past is bullshit
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