State v. Goulet

OPINION

Justice FLAHERTY,

for the Court.

“He said a dog that doesn’t listen is no good.” 1 The defendant, Edgar Goulet, was serious when he uttered those words, because shortly after saying them on May 1, 2006, he used a .22-caliber rifle to kill his dog, Sparky. After an investigation, the State of Rhode Island charged the defendant with one count of malicious killing of an animal and one count of possession of a sawed-off shotgun. On May 12, 2008, after a four-day jury trial, Mr. Goul-et was convicted on both counts. The defendant appealed, alleging numerous errors-including (1) the trial…