According to a representative from the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, one of the cases against alleged dog killer Andrew Thompson will be moved from circuit court back down to district court.
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings decided to bring seven of the 13 charges against Thompson back to district court after Judge Paula Manderfield ruled them inadmissible in Lansing’s 30th Circuit Court earlier this week.
The seven animal killing/torture charges originated in Okemos, where Thompson allegedly killed 10 Italian Greyhounds while living at a Berrytree Apartment, 4464 Janice Lee Drive, Apt. B2.
The counts were struck from circuit court following a motion by Thompson’s attorney Stacia Buchanan.
The counts initially were bound over from Mason’s 55th District Court in August after an investigator from Ingham County Animal Control testified during a preliminary hearing as to the number of dogs Thompson allegedly owned based on an interview she conducted with Thompson’s former roommate.
Judge Donald Allen admitted the charges based on this testimony, but Buchanan said the testimony should have come from the roommate personally and was not sufficient because the defense could not cross examine him.
The roommate was not able to attend the preliminary hearing because he was on vacation with his family.
The district court hearing has not yet been scheduled, but Thompson’s former roommate will have to testify personally.
Thompson’s trial was scheduled to begin Dec. 5, but according to the Ingham County website, the trial has been adjourned to a later date.
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