Terrence Cody's animal-cruelty trial opens with photos of emaciated dog

ALABAMA -- Two-time Alabama All-American Terrence Cody's dog "died a horrible, miserable death because of the conduct of both of these defendants," the prosecutor said as the ex-Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle's trial on animal-cruelty charges started in Baltimore County Circuit Court on Thursday.

Cody and his girlfriend, Kourtney J. Kelley, face 15 criminal counts apiece. Their bench trial started before Judge Judith C. Ensor on Thursday after final plea offers were rejected.

Cody's attorney, Joe Murtha, admitted his client had neglected the dog, but said he never intended for it to die. Murtha said Cody paid $4,000 for the dog, a Presa Canario, or Canary mastiff, named Taz, and another $4,000 to import it from Spain and was crying when he took his pet to the Main Street Veterinary Hospital in Reistertown, Md., in January. The dog died at there.

Prosecutor Adam Lippe used a slide show during his opening statements, the Baltimore Sun reported, that included photos of the dog and its dirty cage.

 

Notice the filthy cage but how neat his shoe collection is kept

 

 Witnesses for the prosecution included Dr. Martha Smith-Blackmore, a forensic veterinarian; Dr. Eddie Molesworth, a vet at Main Street Animal Hospital; and Cody's neighbors.

Smith-Blackmore said the dog died of starvation after being neglected for at least four weeks.

"It was clear that this dog had been very badly neglected for a long period of time," Smith-Blackmore told WJZ-TV outside the courtroom.

She said the dog should have weighed between 99 to 141 pounds. The prosecutor said the dog weighed less than 50 pounds when it died.

"I thought he was dead," Molesworth said of the dog's arrival at his animal hospital.

"You could see every bone" in the dog's face, the Baltimore Sun reported the vet told the court.

The trial is scheduled to continue on Friday morning.

On Feb. 2, a Baltimore County grand jury returned an indictment of 15 charges against Cody. On the same day, Cody was officially released by the Ravens after five seasons.

The charges included two counts of aggravated animal cruelty with a dog, five counts of animal abuse or neglect with the same dog, one count of illegal possession of an alligator and five counts of animal abuse or neglect with the alligator.

Cody also was indicted on one count of possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and one count of possession of marijuana. His girlfriend faced the same charges.

The indictment alleged the abuse took place between Dec. 19 and Jan. 19 and said Cody intentionally tortured and inflicted unnecessary suffering on the dog, then "intentionally cruelly" killed it. The indictment also alleged Cody did not provide the dog with proper food, water, veterinary care, space and shelter.

The indictment charged Cody with illegally importing a live alligator into Maryland, then failing to provide the alligator with proper food, water, veterinary care, space and shelter.

The drug charges included possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and possession of at least 10 grams of marijuana.

On Thursday, Lippe showed photos of two assault rifles and drug paraphernalia, including a gas-mask bong and a 6-foot-long bong, found in Cody's house.

Another article said Cody and his uncle were running a Presa Canario breeding business in Alabama.

(AL.com - Nov 12, 2015)

Earlier:

• Terrence Cody under investigation for animal cruelty, report says, as Ravens announce his release