SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2008
Prison For Woman Whose Dog Killed Neighbor
Convicted Of Second Degree Murder, Dog Owner Gets 15 Years To Life In Landmark Case
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Marjorie Knoller listens to closing arguments in the San Francisco dog mauling trial on March 18, 2002, at the Los Angeles County Courthouse. Knoller whose dogs viciously attacked and killed her neighbor in the hallway of their apartment building seven years ago was sentenced on Sept. 22, 2008, to 15 years to life in prison. (AP PHOTO)
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Marjorie Knoller was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2001 mauling death of Dianne Whipple, but a judge later reduced the charge to involuntary manslaughter and sentenced her in 2002 to a four-year prison term.
But the California Supreme Court last year said the trial judge was wrong and sent the case back. Last month, Superior Court Judge Charlotte Woolard reinstated the murder conviction, for which Knoller was sentenced Monday.
The case is the California's first murder conviction connected to a dog mauling, prosecutors say.
The case turned into a tabloid sensation because of the viciousness of the attack - the dogs tore all of Whipple's clothing from her body and left her with more than 70 bites - and the seemingly cavalier attitudes of Knoller and her law partner and husband, Robert Noel, who blamed Whipple for the attack.
The couple also said they were keeping the canines on behalf of a white supremacist accused of running an attack dog ring from his state prison cell. The couple eventually adopted the prisoner, Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, as their son.
Knoller, who has served three years in prison, will have to serve 12 more years before she can apply for parole.
In denying Knoller's plea for probation, Woolard noted that Knoller didn't call 911 or otherwise try to help Whipple during the 10-minute attack. The judge said Knoller knew the dogs were dangerous, ignored numerous warnings to train them and hasn't expressed remorse for the attack.
"She has blamed the victim and has held her dogs in higher regard than humans," Woolard said.
Whipple's partner, Sharon Smith, addressed Knoller before she was led off to jail. Smith called Knoller's relationship with the two dogs and the prisoner "perverted" and expressed satisfaction with the lengthy prison sentence.
"It is very hard to find forgiveness for someone who doesn't accept responsibility," Smith said.
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- Will she be with ,the Quarterback ? what a horrible way to go.
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- These dogs were not wolves, wolf crossbreeds or pit bull terriers, all of which among other stigmatized breeds can make loving and friendly pets. They were Presa Canarios which have been specifically bred in recent history for one thing and one thing only. They are never pets. Read about them here:
http://www.sfdogmauling.com/HomePageLinks/PresaCanario/Presacanario.html - Reply to this comment
- "You are quite uneducated in this area. My knowledge comes from over 30 years of working closely with dogs in areas of education, rescuing and raising. PitBulls are the "special of the week"".
Posted by IrishWench at 10:44 AM : Sep 23, 2008
I will concede in this area. It is the owner or handler that sets the temperment of the dog. In my case, most of the handlers where very incapable of providing the right invironment for these dogs. My point however, was that when these animals bite, they are vicious in their attack. Not too many people are mauled by cocker spaniels. - Reply to this comment
- Smooooooooooooth. Maybe you can have the cell next to her and you can trade dead people stories. She must be your kinda person.
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Posted by magoo2u1 at 03:37 PM : Sep 23, 2008
Like I really care what you think. - Reply to this comment
- Evil to them that thinks evil!
Evil to them that speaks evil!
Evil to them that does evil! - Reply to this comment
- It''s a shame to live in the same country with this woman.
Please shot her if you have a gun! - Reply to this comment
- I hope one day a tiger could help end this woman.
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- This is one who should be killed.
If ... - Reply to this comment
Bow - Wow!- Reply to this comment
- And how much prison time will the banker-crooks get for killing the U.S. economy?
Zero.
Instead, Bush wants to hand them $700 BILLION!!!!! - Reply to this comment
- Ms. Marjorie Knoller manifested herself to be a vicious and evil person - deserved to be put behind bars for life.
- Reply to this comment
- "I would put the wolf I had up against the Cocker Spaniel any day in the behavior department. The wold was wonderful. The cocker was a biter. "
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Lots of Cocker Spaniels have behavior problems. After WWII they were a fad. To keep up with booming demand, they were bred, inbred, then bred again just to increase numbers. Bad traits got magnified.
I''m sure the same thing happens with pit bulls. Since they''re used for fighting, it would be a benefit to breed in aggressive traits. Yes, the human master teaches behavior too. Both are to blame when a person gets murdered by this hobby. - Reply to this comment
- "To hell with the deceased. I''''d rather be around any dog any day. "
Smooooooooooooth. Maybe you can have the cell next to her and you can trade dead people stories. She must be your kinda person. - Reply to this comment
- "Wolves are better mannered than a lot of dogs are. I would put the wolf I had up against the Cocker Spaniel any day in the behavior department. "
The difference is you know exactly what the wolf is and expect it to behave accordingly. The trouble comes when someone has a pet and forgets it is an animal. We personify them and want to think they are human-like. When my neighbors dogs killed my daughter''s kitten on our porch, bit her repeatedly, tore her clothing and knocker her off her bike and broke her arm- they refused to restrain their animals and blamed my daughter for each incident. I called animal control and they handled it. Spot , muffy, fido and snookums are animals and if they are hurting children you must keep them at your home and away from mine. - Reply to this comment
- wold = wolf*
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- we are going to keep reading about the idiots going to jail because they tried unsuccessfully to make a sheep out of a wolf.....
Posted by nwarky1 at 12:29 PM : Sep 23, 2008
Wolves are better mannered than a lot of dogs are. I would put the wolf I had up against the Cocker Spaniel any day in the behavior department. The wold was wonderful. The cocker was a biter. - Reply to this comment
- Yes, I know my comment was rude; downright awful. I just get irritated with the stupidity of so many people.
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- thats a rude comment. yes a life was lost and two dogs got euthanized. all because two idiots were not responsible enough to handle these kinds of dogs. she knoller and her husband should have gotten life in prison
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- To hell with the deceased. I''d rather be around any dog any day.
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- feel sorry for the dogs as they were doing what instinct told them to do and what they were taught to do I have no sympathy for the owners who knew how dangerous these dogs could be. who let the dogs scare people she deserves a whole lot more than she got. what about vics dogs most and i say most were rehabilitaed and given to homes
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