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CNN Live At Daybreak

Marjorie Knoller Continues Testimony Today in Dog Mauling Trial

Aired March 12, 2002 - 06:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In California today, one of the defendants in the dog mauling trial is set to pick up where she left off yesterday. A sobbing Marjorie Knoller told jurors she did everything she could to stop the fatal attack on her neighbor.

Linda Yee of our San Francisco affiliate KRON has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LINDA YEE, KRON-TV REPORTER (voice-over): The jury heard and saw a tearful, emotional Marjorie Knoller. They'll have to decide whether Knoller is guilty or not of second degree murder or manslaughter in the death of Diane Whipple. Knoller was with the dogs when they mauled Whipple to death in their apartment hallway.

Knoller began by sighing, then sobbing. "I'm feeling awful," she says, "just thinking about the horrible way Ms. Whipple died in that hallway. It causes me great sorrow, and I'm in pain for everybody who knew her, and spent time with her. My heart goes out to her family and friends. She died a horrible death, and I couldn't stop him from doing what he was doing."

Knoller was referring to Bane, the male dog involved in the attack, and the one that was immediately put down by Animal Control officers that night.

Prosecutor Jim Hammer was not moved by Knoller's emotions.

JIM HAMMER, PROSECUTOR: Well you saw it, she appeared to cry a little bit, for what I saw was less than a minute. I'm going to ask her straight out, when was the first time she cried for Diane Whipple.

YEE: Whipple's partner, Sharon Smith, had an angrier response to the tears.

SHARON SMITH, WHIPPLE'S DOMESTIC PARTNER: After watching Marjorie's performance for the entire day, the only thing I want to say, and that's really is using Mrs. Ruiz's own words, she's lying.

YEE: Smith was referring to Ruiz's comment on a national television program last week when she claimed Smith lied on the stand when she said Whipple had been bitten by the dogs before, a comment that has Ruiz up for possible contempt charges. Meantime, Knoller also testified about the struggle she had with Bane, how she was "flat out on her stomach to try and pull him back" when Bane was attacking Whipple. Knoller said she knew Bane was tearing at her clothing but did not know he was biting her, and that she did not recall her saying anything.

Knoller's lawyer said the testimony was hard for her.

NEDRA RUIZ, KNOLLER'S LAWYER: That your pet has gone berserk and killed this person is a hideous reality to have to live with.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And that was reporter Linda Yee of our San Francisco affiliate KRON.

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