USA: NFL superstar Michael Vick appears in court to answer dog fighting charges

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, once one of the National Football League's most marketable players, pleaded not guilty on Thursday (July 26) to federal charges of sponsoring an interstate dog-fighting operation. Vick and three others also charged were involved in a dog-fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" from early 2001 through April 2007, a grand jury indictment said. It said the enterprise was based at a property in Smithfield, Virginia, that was owned by Vick. Protestors who came from across the country greeted Vick at the courthouse with boos and shouts of "dog killer!" Dan Shannon, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, demanded action saying "We believe state, local and federal authorites vigorously should prosecute anybody who is alleged to be involved with dogfighting regardless of whether they are star quarterbacks or not." Prosecutors charge that dogs sometimes fought to the death on Vick's property and that some losing dogs had been shot dead, drowned, hung or electrocuted. They also accused Vick and his associates of shooting dogs that failed to meet expectations in tests of their fighting ability. Atlanta's training camp opened on Thursday (July 26) but the 27-year-old Vick, a three-time All-Pro player, was in court to fight the felony charges. Trial was set for November, Vick faces a possible six years in prison and $350,000 in fines if convicted. While Vick was answering dogfighting charges in Richmond, backup quarterback Joey Harrington, a thrice-removed cousin of British Open Champion Padraig Harrington, was thrust into the starting quarterback role at Atlanta Falcon's training camp.

ITN Source | July 27, 2007

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