A U.S. Navy recruitment officer, who was facing charges of animal cruelty and assault and battery, has been found not guilty of all charges.
According to Thursday's publication of the Telegram, Thomas J. Knowlton of Charlton, Mass., was found not guilty by Judge Michael G. Allard-Madaus.
The reason for the not guilty finding is unclear.
The 39-year-old Navy recruiter was arrested and charged in July, 2012, after his wife reported that he had grabbed her by the neck, threw her onto the couch, and then killed their senior dog named "Oliver."
The small, 12-year-old Shih Tzu, died from what is believed to be "severe head trauma."
The injuries to the senior dog were such that the responding animal control officers reportedly had to clean up the "blood spatter," before the children in the household would be "exposed" to it.
According to a prior story in the Telegram, Knowlton's defense attorney had stated that his client was "'devastated by the incident and his reaction was an “emotional response” caused by “stress.'"
Read a prior article on this incident here.
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