Man, 20, acquitted in killing of pony

December 11, 2009 By: Krisha Williams Turbeville Category: Animal cruelty laws, Arkansas animal law, Cruelty watch, Horses

MIKE LINN
THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

A Drew County jury has acquitted a Monticello-area man in the August beating death of a Shetland pony, attorneys said Thursday.

Benjamin Briney, 20, was one of the first Arkansans charged under the state’s new felony aggravated-animal-cruelty law.

Briney testified to the jury Wednesday that he beat the pony to death with a baseball bat, although he said the pony’s owner had suggested he put the pony down by injecting it with a needle full of air, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Zach Vaughn said. (more…)