Supreme Court Rules in Dog Mauling Case

Susy Owen

Attorney

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In July 2002, the San Francisco lawyer whose dogs fatally mauled a neighbor was sentenced to four years in prison. The two dogs actually belonged to a state prisoner, who was gang involved and both convicted attorneys, Knoller and her husband, later adopted the prisoner. It would be difficult to find a better example of truth being stranger than fiction. Knoller was charged with involuntary manslaughter as opposed to second-degree murder. However, she could get more time since the California Supreme Court ordered a trial judge to consider a second-degree murder charge.

In 2002 Knoller was originally convicted by a jury with second-degree murder. However, the trial judge threw out that charge and reduced it to involuntary manslaughter. On appeal, the court reinstated the original conviction last year. On Thursday, a unanimous state Supreme Court stated that the trial and appeals courts were both wrong and sent the case back down for reconsideration.

The California Attorney General's office will ask that the second degree conviction be reinstated due to the fatal dog mauling. Let's hope it is reinstated. Stay tuned.