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Two men found guilty of murder in dog DNA case

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Gimarie330

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Sep 17, 1998, 3:00:00 AM9/17/98
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Two men found guilty of murder in 'dog DNA' case

SEATTLE (September 17, 1998 02:13 a.m.
Two men were convicted of murder Wednesday in what is believed to be the first
U.S. criminal trial in which DNA from an animal -- in this case a dog -- was
introduced as evidence.

Kenneth John Leuluaialii and George Tuilefano, both 24, were accused of killing
a young couple and their dog after kicking in the front door of the couple's
home and demanding marijuana, cocaine or cash.

Raquel Rivera, 20, was chased down and killed with a shot from a gun placed in
her mouth. Jay Johnson, 22, was tortured with gunshots in both legs before
being finished off with two shots to the abdomen. The dog was shot and thrown
against a wall.

To bolster witness accounts, prosecutors presented evidence that two jackets
and a pair of pants linked to the defendants bore bloodstains from the dog,
Chief. The pit bull-Labrador mix died 30 hours after the attack on Dec. 9,
1996.

One juror who would not give his name said the role of the dog DNA was central
to deliberations because it proved each defendant had to be in the house.
Another juror, Mark Madden, downplayed the role.

The important fact was that it was dog's blood because "there weren't any other
dogs involved in the case," Madden said. Besides, he added, "we didn't think it
was very clear who owned the jackets."

Peter Connick, Tuilefano's lawyer, planned an appeal based in part on the
admission of testimony on the dog DNA.

"That testimony was a joke," Connick said. "No one's ever seen it work before."

Leuluaialii, convicted on two counts of aggravated first-degree murder and one
count of animal cruelty, faces a mandatory life prison term. Tuilefano faces at
least 40 years on two counts of first-degree murder. He was acquitted of animal
cruelty. No date for sentencing was set.

Officials of PE AgGen in Davis, Calif., where the dog blood was tested, said
they knew of no other U.S. criminal trial in which animal DNA tests were
admitted as evidence.

By TIM KLASS, Associated Press Writer


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