South African Boerboels

'Graphic' dog-bite pics delay trial

By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Deciding how to handle graphic medical images caused another delay in setting a trial date for the two
allegedly vicious South African boerboels that have been tied to several Downtown attacks and could be
euthanized under the state's Vicious Dog Law.
The dogs' owner, Susan Kolb, has asked for a trial to defend the animals. At yesterday's pretrial hearing,
her attorney noted that she had not received the disc that contains images of the injuries of the victims.
Prosecutor Armando Molina quickly produced the disc, but said the pictures were very graphic. He said he
wanted to have a conference to decide how they would be used and also said he wanted a confidentiality
agreement before he would share them with the defense.
With a courtroom full of people waiting to appear for other matters, Municipal Judge Nesle Rodriguez said,
"I just can't do it today, I have a packed courtroom." Rodriguez set Friday at 1 p.m. for a hearing to deal with
the disc - apparently the last hurdle before setting a trial date.
Kolb's lawyer, Gina Calogero, said she was ready to go to trial yesterday. Calogero noted that the dogs
have been impounded since Jan. 19, the day after the most recent attack. The proceedings have been
delayed several times already because the defense was waiting to receive documents from prosecutors.
"It is very important to my client and the state that this is resolved," Calogero told Rodriguez.
Jonathan L. Rodriguez, 24, of Brunswick Street, was injured Jan. 19 when, he says, Kolb unleashed the
dogs and they ran across the street and tore into his arm. James Joyce, 24, said he needed six stitches
after being attacked Jan. 9. Kolb said Joyce was not injured. On Sept. 21, at the park at Greene and Essex
streets, police said the two dogs knocked down a woman and the 6-month-old child she was carrying.
Kolb has complained that officials at the Humane Society have barred her from visiting the dogs.