Trial of man accused of severely abusing puppy postponed

DEDHAM, Mass. – The trial of a Massachusetts man accused of abusing a dog so severely that it had to be euthanized has been postponed.

Jury selection in Radoslaw Czerkawski’s (RAD’-oh-slaw zehr-KAW’-skeez) trial on animal cruelty charges was expected to begin on Tuesday in Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham. But a judge agreed to reschedule because of Czerkawski’s medical condition. It is now tentatively scheduled to start Jan. 9.

The year-old pit bull mix was found in Quincy in 2013 with fractures, a stab wound and a split tongue. The starving dog that came to be known as Puppy Doe was euthanized.

Czerkawski has suggested that kids he saw drinking in a park were responsible for the abuse. His trial was initially set for July, but was delayed by a prosecutor’s emergency eye surgery.