[skeet]

This is a folllow up to the original story

As the trial of a pair of PETA employees accused of killing and then dumping animals ostensibly picked up in order to find them homes continues in Hertford County, North Carolina Superior Court, an initially slow procedural day turned into one with an interesting revelation.

While pre-trial motions and jury selection occupied the majority of the day, the defense counsel for PETA employees Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook asked to schedule one final defense motion - a request to "exclude evidence of other crimes" from the trial.

The other crimes, it was revealed included prior dumping of other animals.

When Superior Court Judge Cy Grant asked what those other crimes might include, the prosecuting attorneys explained that prior dumping was among those crimes they sought to have excluded.

Short version, this was not the first time Hinkle and Cook had used their "murder wagon" to inject animals with poison; dumping their bodies into unguarded dumpsters around the area.

Upon further questioning, Prosecuting Attorney District Attorney Valerie Asbell explained that the prosecutor's office, in fact, was in possession of evidence of other dumping by the duo prior to their arrest in June 2005.

The trial continues, but it would appear that, at least at this time, PETA will be unable to deny the fact that the duo was, indeed, picking up animals on false pretenses from area vets and shelters, then killing them with a toxic cocktail, then dumping the carcasses.

PETA certainly isn't taking the case lightly. Observers say there are three trial lawyers for Adria Hinkle, one for Andrew Cook and PETA in-house counsel Jeff Kerr all in attendance, along with former PETA litigator Phil Hirschkop, a 17-year PETA veteran media contact, and at least three PETA legal interns.


Unbelieveable if true.