Massachusetts

‘Puppy Doe' Animal Abuse Trial Postponed

Radoslaw Czerkawski faces multiple animal cruelty charges in the trial

The trial for a man accused of abusing a dog so severely that it had to be euthanized has been postponed for a month.

Officials say jury selection for the trial of Radoslaw Czerkawski was delayed to Aug. 7 after the case's assistant district attorney underwent emergency surgery for a detached retina to save her sight.

The trial, which had been scheduled to start on Tuesday, comes nearly four years after the animal that came to be known as Puppy Doe was found barely alive on a playground.

Czerkawski faces multiple animal cruelty charges.

The case received widespread attention when the year-old pit bull mix was found in Quincy in 2013 with skull, spine and rib fractures, a stab wound to the right eye and a split tongue. The starving female dog was euthanized. 

Czerkawski has pleaded not guilty and suggested youths he saw drinking in a park were responsible for the abuse. His attorney didn't immediately respond to a message, but previously questioned the DNA evidence. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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