Closing Arguments Today In Dog Trial

Closing arguments in the animal cruelty trial of Jeanette and Swen Bergman are scheduled this afternoon.

Pend Oreille County prosecutors presented 6 days of testimony from about 10 witnesses, while defense attorneys presented only about 1-1/2 hours of testimony Wednesday.

The defense filed dozens of motions to dismiss the charges, but District Court Judge Chuck Baechler dismissed most of them.

Baechler agreed, though, to drop six counts accusing Swen Bergman of illegally removing more than half a dog’s ear. A sworn statement from the couple’s 11-year-old son indicated Jeanette Bergman did the ear cutting.

Both defendants still face 21 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty stemming from a Jan. 4 raid on their Mountain Top Kennel near Newport, where they bred expensive mastiffs and golden retrievers.

Baechler said he intends to render a verdict Friday afternoon in the nonjury trial.

Defense attorneys are pinning their hopes on an appeal. They claim the search warrant for the raid was obtained and executed illegally. , DataTimes