Verdict Reached in Dog Road Rage Case

Rick Stephens · 07:11 PM

San Jose, Cal., 2:43 EDT June 19,2001--A San Jose jury convicted Andrew Burnett of animal crulety for tossing a little white dog into traffic to its death.

The jury deliberated for about 45 minutes Tuesday morning. Burnett could be sentenced to as much as three years in prison.

Burnett was convicted of killing a bichon frise named Leo, following a minor traffic accident with the car driven by the dogs owner.

The dogs owner claimed that after the fender bender, Burnett reached throught the open car window with both arms and grabbed the dog.

But Burnett's attorney says his client instictively snached the dog from the car after being bitten on the hand.

Today(7-13-01) he was sentenced to the maximum sentence under California state law. Three years in the state prison.

BIG_DADDY · 06-19-2001, 01:54 PM

BIG DADDY predicts 6mo. + 2 1/2 years probation. If he did it to my dog that would be the least of his worries.

**Bwana** · 06-19-2001, 07:47 PM

"If he did it to my dog that would be the least of his worries."

What you said.....

The guy would be following fluffy into the traffic. What a hump.

Logical · 06-19-2001, 07:55 PM

Folks I am not advocating throwing a dog into traffic, but have you ever been bit by a dog or a cat. My first reaction is to drop kick the animal across the room and in the case of my sisters cat I did.

That cat never came near me again. I could see if a dog bit me that my reaction would be to yank it through the window and toss it. I doubt if the guy intended for the dog to get run over.

Seems to me the guy ought to buy the dog owner a replacement dog and that would be the end of it, maybe a probationary period in the event he had a history of animal cruelty.

My God it is just a dog, why did this even need to go to court?

This entire opinion is predicated on the dog having bit the guy.

Rick Stephens · 06-19-2001, 08:15 PM

Logical,

This has been a big case here in California. People collected a $120,000 reward for the arrest of this guy and there were witnesses who actually saw him grab the dog and throw it into oncoming traffic. The dog never bit him and the jury was right in convicting him for his actions. This was a guy out of control and now he is faced with the prison time which he deserves.

**Bwana** · 06-19-2001, 08:16 PM

Jim: I haven't followed this case minute by minute and this is the first I have heard of the dog taking a hack out of the guy. Something tells me it is all a load of BS, but even if it it isn't and the dog did take a steak out of the the guys hand, so what?

Something tells me if this was indeed the case, the dog was trying to protect its owner from some half crazed SOB that was all bent out of shape with road rage and looking to "do something about it."

I have NEVER warmed up to the small yard dog, fluff ball type of dogs and own a couple of yellow labs myself, but I don't condone giving scruffy a lob into on-comming traffic. The fact the guy "reached into the car" is enough to make me think he was not patting the lady on the back and telling her "things are cool, what's the name of your insurance agent?"

Chiefs Pantalones · 06-19-2001, 08:22 PM

You just don't do that to dogs or any animal, just because its "just a dog" (understatement, BTW) nothing, not nothing deserves to be treated like that. Thats sick.

CG

how would you feel if someone took your dog and threw him out the window, and get ran over. OR...have someone throw YOU out the window and YOU get ran over?

Pets are like family members...you don't let no one step on your family

Chiefs Pantalones · 06-19-2001, 08:35 PM

Jim,

This wasn't directed towards you, I was just using your phrase in your post.

CG

just wanted to get that across

DaWolf · 06-19-2001, 10:38 PM

I heard on the radio today that the reason the defense attorney abruptley ended his defense so early was because the judge was going to allow evidence to be entered showing that this guy was no first time offender when it came to being phisically abusive to dogs...

Logical · 06-19-2001, 11:29 PM

To each of you that responded,

Please note my last statement in my earlier post was:

[QUOTE]This entire opinion is predicated on the dog having bit the guy.[/QUOTE]

I will stand by my statements in that regard, but I admit that the details are sketchy, did the dog reach out the window and bite the guys hand, did the guy stick his hand in and then the dog bit it those scenarios change the picture slightly. If he was sticking his hand in the window why was he doing it?

Having said all that, no matter what Jail time at taxpayer expense is not the answer. If the guy hates animals sending him to jail will not change that and will probably make it worse. Wasting between 10K and 20K of taxpayer money to put some guy in prison for six months will accomplish nothing.

If the guy has done what is said and he is completely guilty, make him buy the owner a new dog, make him pay for the dog receiving proper obedience training so that new dog will not bite anyone whether the old one did or not is not the point. Then make the guy do Public Service in an animal shelter for some period of time. It is more likely to have a positive effect on him than sending him to jail with true criminals who rape, murder, steal. It is a proven fact that jail is a great training ground to take someone from a petty criminal to hardened criminal in no time. Seems counter productive over an animal.

**Rausch** · 06-19-2001, 11:37 PM

To be honest, I'd be more forgiving if he'd of tossed the lady into traffic....

Seriously...

THere is a big difference between animals and people: ANIMALS NEVER PISS OFF A PERSON ON PURPOSE. PEOPLE DO IT EVERY DAY!

I have to regretably say that I've liked more animals that I've met than people. The dog wasn't driving the car, the lady was.

And I must say that most idiots on the road should be given leathal injection. They are just STUPID!

And I don't care for the "people are more important than animals" line of bs....I'll take a man eating lion over Hitler ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

Logical · 06-20-2001, 12:06 AM

Brad,

If I did not know you and respect you. I would not believe what you just said, the line about Hitler was hilarious. I doubt if you intended it to be it just was. Have a good night.

DanT · 06-20-2001, 01:01 AM

That little lap dog could not have possibly bitten the man unless he had his arms somewhere they shouldn't have been. If that's the best the defense could come up with, I don't doubt that the defense attorney for the sick bastard wanted to cut the case short.

DanT · 06-20-2001, 01:09 AM

Logical,

Not to sound trite but, in my opinion, the value of a beloved pet is not the cost of buying a "replacement" animal. Similarly, the value of a masterful painting is not the cost of the canvas and paints of which it consists.

**Rausch** · 06-20-2001, 02:52 AM

Logical,

yes, yes my friend, that was deeply hidden sarcasm...

But in all seriousness, why hurt an animal because the owner is a total freak? I don't get that part...

Yeah, no person was declared at fault from what i read. But if it was the woman, why kill her dog? Really?

I could understand killing her, being what human nature is, it happens all the time....But kill her dog? He didn't mean to get revenge, or act out of instinct, that was purely to make that poor(and i do mean poor) driver suffer. Logic doesn't apply to our aggression anymore. That's my point. We don't even make logical illogical decisions, if that makes any sense. You trashed my yard, so i burn your roses. Your dog doddied on my lawn, so i set your pet can on fire?

Eh?

06-19-2001, 01:42 PM	Topic Starter
Rick Stephens #1 Chiefs Collector Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Garden Grove, California Casino cash: $10004900	Verdict Reached in Dog Road Rage Case San Jose, Cal., 2:43 EDT June 19,2001--A San Jose jury convicted Andrew Burnett of animal crulety for tossing a little white dog into traffic to its death. The jury deliberated for about 45 minutes Tuesday morning. Burnett could be sentenced to as much as three years in prison. Burnett was convicted of killing a bichon frise named Leo, following a minor traffic accident with the car driven by the dogs owner. The dogs owner claimed that after the fender bender, Burnett reached throught the open car window with both arms and grabbed the dog. But Burnett's attorney says his client instictively snached the dog from the car after being bitten on the hand. Today(7-13-01) he was sentenced to the maximum sentence under California state law. Three years in the state prison. Last edited by Rick Stephens; 07-13-2001 at 07:11 PM..
Posts: 291

06-19-2001, 01:54 PM	#2
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $5128410	BIG DADDY predicts 6mo. + 2 1/2 years probation. If he did it to my dog that would be the least of his worries. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,382

06-19-2001, 07:47 PM	#3
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139593647	"If he did it to my dog that would be the least of his worries." What you said..... The guy would be following fluffy into the traffic. What a hump.
Posts: 69,730

06-19-2001, 07:55 PM	#4
Logical Screw U if U can't take a joke Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Folks I am not advocating throwing a dog into traffic, but have you ever been bit by a dog or a cat. My first reaction is to drop kick the animal across the room and in the case of my sisters cat I did. That cat never came near me again. I could see if a dog bit me that my reaction would be to yank it through the window and toss it. I doubt if the guy intended for the dog to get run over. Seems to me the guy ought to buy the dog owner a replacement dog and that would be the end of it, maybe a probationary period in the event he had a history of animal cruelty. My God it is just a dog, why did this even need to go to court? This entire opinion is predicated on the dog having bit the guy.
Posts: 31,579

06-19-2001, 08:15 PM	#5
Rick Stephens #1 Chiefs Collector Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Garden Grove, California Casino cash: $10004900	Logical, This has been a big case here in California. People collected a $120,000 reward for the arrest of this guy and there were witnesses who actually saw him grab the dog and throw it into oncoming traffic. The dog never bit him and the jury was right in convicting him for his actions. This was a guy out of control and now he is faced with the prison time which he deserves.
Posts: 291

06-19-2001, 08:16 PM	#6
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139593647	Jim: I haven't followed this case minute by minute and this is the first I have heard of the dog taking a hack out of the guy. Something tells me it is all a load of BS, but even if it it isn't and the dog did take a steak out of the the guys hand, so what? Something tells me if this was indeed the case, the dog was trying to protect its owner from some half crazed SOB that was all bent out of shape with road rage and looking to "do something about it." I have NEVER warmed up to the small yard dog, fluff ball type of dogs and own a couple of yellow labs myself, but I don't condone giving scruffy a lob into on-comming traffic. The fact the guy "reached into the car" is enough to make me think he was not patting the lady on the back and telling her "things are cool, what's the name of your insurance agent?" Last edited by Bwana; 06-19-2001 at 08:28 PM..
Posts: 69,730

06-19-2001, 08:22 PM	#7
Chiefs Pantalones GO CHIEFS!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $7938717	You just don't do that to dogs or any animal, just because its "just a dog" (understatement, BTW) nothing, not nothing deserves to be treated like that. Thats sick. CG how would you feel if someone took your dog and threw him out the window, and get ran over. OR...have someone throw YOU out the window and YOU get ran over? Pets are like family members...you don't let no one step on your family __________________ Don't be fooled by my username, I'm white.
Posts: 26,629

06-19-2001, 08:35 PM	#8
Chiefs Pantalones GO CHIEFS!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $7938717	Jim, This wasn't directed towards you, I was just using your phrase in your post. CG just wanted to get that across __________________ Don't be fooled by my username, I'm white.
Posts: 26,629

06-19-2001, 10:38 PM	#9
DaWolf Cry havoc... Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10007725	I heard on the radio today that the reason the defense attorney abruptley ended his defense so early was because the judge was going to allow evidence to be entered showing that this guy was no first time offender when it came to being phisically abusive to dogs...
Posts: 6,798

06-19-2001, 11:29 PM	#10
Logical Screw U if U can't take a joke Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	To each of you that responded, Please note my last statement in my earlier post was: [QUOTE]This entire opinion is predicated on the dog having bit the guy.[/QUOTE] I will stand by my statements in that regard, but I admit that the details are sketchy, did the dog reach out the window and bite the guys hand, did the guy stick his hand in and then the dog bit it those scenarios change the picture slightly. If he was sticking his hand in the window why was he doing it? Having said all that, no matter what Jail time at taxpayer expense is not the answer. If the guy hates animals sending him to jail will not change that and will probably make it worse. Wasting between 10K and 20K of taxpayer money to put some guy in prison for six months will accomplish nothing. If the guy has done what is said and he is completely guilty, make him buy the owner a new dog, make him pay for the dog receiving proper obedience training so that new dog will not bite anyone whether the old one did or not is not the point. Then make the guy do Public Service in an animal shelter for some period of time. It is more likely to have a positive effect on him than sending him to jail with true criminals who rape, murder, steal. It is a proven fact that jail is a great training ground to take someone from a petty criminal to hardened criminal in no time. Seems counter productive over an animal.
Posts: 31,579

06-20-2001, 12:06 AM	#12
Logical Screw U if U can't take a joke Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	Brad, If I did not know you and respect you. I would not believe what you just said, the line about Hitler was hilarious. I doubt if you intended it to be it just was. Have a good night.
Posts: 31,579

06-20-2001, 01:01 AM	#13
DanT Veteran Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Davis, CA Casino cash: $4541711	That little lap dog could not have possibly bitten the man unless he had his arms somewhere they shouldn't have been. If that's the best the defense could come up with, I don't doubt that the defense attorney for the sick bastard wanted to cut the case short.
Posts: 4,224

06-20-2001, 01:09 AM	#14
DanT Veteran Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Davis, CA Casino cash: $4541711	Logical, Not to sound trite but, in my opinion, the value of a beloved pet is not the cost of buying a "replacement" animal. Similarly, the value of a masterful painting is not the cost of the canvas and paints of which it consists.
Posts: 4,224