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| On Tuesday, February 23, 1999, a twelve week old Siamese kitten was brought to the HSRIC Shelter - the sole survivor of a litter that had (allegedly) been tortured and killed. (It has been reported that one of the "lucky" ones had merely had its head crushed.) The survivor, named Hope by the shelter staff, was blinded (severe eye damage), deaf, her ears and feet had been badly burned, her tail cut off, the tendons in her back leg had been cut, and she was suffering internal injuries. On Friday, March 5, 1999, based upon information obtained pursuant to an investigation by the HSRIC, one Robert Slavish, 23, of Milan, IL, was arrested by the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department and charged with one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (a Class A Misdomeanor). In all fairness, it should be noted that Mr. Slavish, speaking through his wife (?), claims that everything that happened to Hope was nothing more than a series of bizarre "accidents" (burned while he was giving her a bath, tail fell off after he stepped on it), that the other kittens in the litter "just died," and something-or-other to the effect that he is the greatest animal lover since St. Francis of Assisi, etc., etc., ad nauseam. Note: We have no information at this point with regard to possible charges of accessory and/or perjury against Mrs. Slavish - but, then again, perjury would only attach after testimony under oath at trial. According to information received 3/25/99, the "Slavish Camp" has NOW started claiming that: "Maybe the kids were a little rough with her." (I can hardly wait to hear what they come up with next.) For more information of the current status of the charges against Mr. Slavish (Case No. 99-CM-517), you might want to contact the Rock Island County States Attorney, Rock Island County Court House, 210 15th St., Rock Island, IL 61201 - Ph: (309) 786-4451. The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant State's Attorney Jeff Terronez. People of the State of Illinois -vs- Robert Slavish, No. 99-CM-517 Arraignment in the matter of People of the State of Illinois -vs- Robert Slavish, Case No. 99-CM-517, was held on April 1, 1999. The Pre-Trial Hearing scheduled for April 21, 1999, in the matter of People -vs- Slavish was postponed when the attorney appointed for him by the court requested and was granted at continuence until May 12, 1999. Note: Already overburdened taxpayers who at tired of giving criminals a free ride might want to inquire how someone who is ostensibly gainfully employed could qualify for a court appointed attorney. 'Nuff said? The Pre Trial Hearing in the matter of People -vs- Slavish, Case No. 99-CM-517, was held on Wednesday, May 12, 1999. Judge declares Slavish not guilty? In rendering his decision in the matter of People of the State of Illinois -vs- Robert Slavish, No. 99-CM-517, on Friday, October 8, 1999, Judge Michael Brinn wrote that: "Does this mean that the defendant did not cause the injuries to Hope? NO, but it does mean that THE STATE has FAILED to meet its burden of proving the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." Pursuant to his ruling, Judge Brinn noted that a not guilty verdict does not mean that a defendant is innocent. "A not guilty verdict," he said, "expresses no view as to the defendant's innocence. It simply indicates that the prosecution had failed to meet its burden of proof." (The foregoing quotes were gleaned from the Rock Island Argus and Quad-City Times.) The following is the official statement by the Board of the Directors of the Humane Society of Rock Island County with regard to the proceedings (and matters associated therewith) in the matter of People of the State of Illinois -vs- Robert Slavish, No. 99-CM-517. |
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