TRIAL UNDERWAY FOR MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING NEIGHBORS DOGS

A trial got underway yesterday for a Hunker man accused of shooting and killing his neighbor’s dogs. The Trib reports that 37-year-old Jason Beal faces five misdemeanor counts including cruelty to animals, tampering with evidence, conspiracy, criminal mischief and theft in connection with the shooting of Hagrid, a 5-year-old German shepherd mix, and Aspen, a 4-year-old Alaskan malamute, on Dec. 2, 2021. In opening statements made to the jury, Assistant DA Elizabeth Ranger said that he felt justified in shooting the dogs because he believed one of them killed his pet peacock. Testimony is expected to begin today.