REMINDER: Friday, June 7: Jury Deliberation Continues in Trial of Man Who Threw Kitten From Second-Floor Apartment

As you know, Edwon Julian is charged with animal cruelty and assault. The jury deliberated last week for more than 10 hours and reached a verdict on the animal cruelty charge but not on the assault charge. The judge ordered the jury to return Friday, June 7, at 8:30 a.m. to resume their deliberations.  When they reach a decision, the verdicts in both cases will be announced.

Please join us in the courtroom Friday morning as we await the verdicts.  If you’re able to attend for a portion of the day, feel free to email me at jonnieengland@att.net before you come to see if we’re still waiting.  It’s so important that we show our support of the DA’s office for prosecuting these cases of animal cruelty and for abused animals everywhere.

Thanks.
 Jonnie

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Jury Selection Starts May 28 in Animal Cruelty Trial of Edwon Julian,

Charged With Throwing Kitten From Second-Floor Apartment


DALLAS--A man accused of killing a kitten by throwing in from a second-floor apartment in Richardson last summer will go on trial next week.

Edwon Kumont Julian, 36, is charged with a State Jail Felony with the enhancement of a deadly weapon.  Jury selection starts Tuesday, May 28, and testimony is expected to begin Wednesday, May 29.  The trial will take place in the 292nd District Court on the 6th floor of the Frank Crowley Courts Building in Dallas with Judge Larry Mitchell presiding.

According the arrest warrant, Richardson police were dispatched to the apartment of Rosa Dismuke on July 31, 2012.  Dismuke said she and Julian, her boyfriend at the time, had gotten into an argument and that he physically assaulted her.  When her two children came to her aid, he tried to use a stun gun on them.  They were able to get the stun gun away from Julian and told him to leave. He then “grabbed her pet kitten by the tail, spun it over his head and threw if off the second-floor landing.” Dismuke told officers that the kitten landed approximately 20 feet away on the pavement.

Officers found the 3- to 4-month-old grey kitten lying on a bed.  The small kitten was still alive but clearly injured and appeared to have a broken back.  Richardson Animal Services was called to the scene, and the kitten died a short time later.

Julian had left the apartment but was arrested a short time later and charged with assault and felony animal cruelty.  He remains in the Dallas County jail on a total bond of $41,000.  If convicted, he could receive 2 to 20 years in prison because of his past criminal history.

The Frank Crowley Courts Building is located at 133 N. Riverfront Boulevard in Dallas.

TIPS FOR ATTENDING A TRIAL:  Parking is $6 cash in two parking garages adjacent to the Courts building at Riverfront and Justice Center, and there are surface lots across the street.  Dress is business attire, and no clothing or badges with slogans are allowed in the courtroom.  Also, no cameras (other than cell/smartphones), nail files or spray bottles (i.e., hair spray) are allowed in the building.  The courthouse is a cash-only building; no checks or credit cards accepted in the cafeteria, snack bar and soda/candy machines, so plan accordingly.

Please attend if you can to show support for the prosecution of animal cruelty cases and to send the message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated.